Sport in brief: Thackray gets second chance to be Noble man with Welsh Crusaders

Rugby League: The North Wales-based Crusaders, rushing to put a squad together for the start of the Super League season, have signed the Great Britain prop, Jamie Thackray.

The 30-year-old front-rower has played in the competition with Halifax, Leeds, Castleford and twice with Hull. He won his three Test caps when he was selected against Australia and New Zealand by Brian Noble, who is now the Crusaders' coach.

"I've played under Brian and Jon Sharp for Great Britain, but I'm looking forward to working with Iestyn Harris for the first time," Thackray said. Thackray's first opportunity will be in Crusaders' opening match against one of his former clubs, Leeds, at Wrexham on 29 January.

He could well be joined in the line-up by the club's other signing yesterday, Vince Mellars, a winger or centre who has played in the NRL.

Dave Hadfield

Broncos and 49ers on course for Wembley

American Football: The San Francisco 49ers will play the Denver Broncos next season at Wembley Stadium, the fourth straight year the NFL will stage a regular-season game in the British capital. The game will played on 31 October, and the 49ers will be listed as the home team. ''For the past three years we have seen the extraordinary passion that exists for NFL football in the UK,'' NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. ''We want to continue to build on that passion by strengthening our ties to our existing British fans and creating new ones.''

Armstrong to tackle Ironman challenge

Cycling: Not satisfied with his remarkable comeback to top-level racing, Lance Armstrong has set himself a new challenge by saying he intends to compete in the Hawaii Ironman. The 38-year-old Armstrong was targeting the 2011 or 2012 event in Kona, Hawaii, depending upon whether this year or next will see his final Tour de France. "I will be in Kona 15 months after the final Tour," Armstrong said yesterday. "If it's 2010, then it will be Kona 2011. If it's 2011, it will be Kona 2012."

Lynn leads at halfway in Johannesburg

Golf: England's David Lynn has another chance to shake off his journeyman label when he takes a one-stroke lead into the third round of the Joburg Open today. The 36-year-old from Stoke has not had to return to the European Tour qualifying school since 1999 and has earned more than £3.5m but has won only once in over 300 starts. A second-round 67 at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington East took Lynn to 12 under par at halfway and one ahead of the favourite, Charl Schwartzel.