Bradford lure Swann and set sights on Kohe-Love

Bradford have confirmed the signing of the New Zealand Test forward, Logan Swann, as they begin their rebuilding for next season.

The 28-year-old New Zealand Warriors player, capped 20 times by his country, is to join the Bulls on a one-year contract. "It is a tremendous coup by the club to obtain the services of a world-class player," said the Bradford coach, Brian Noble, who is also poised to announce the signing this week of another Kiwi - the Hull centre, Toa Kohe-Love.

Swann will be a direct replacement for the Great Britain forward, Mike Forshaw, who is joining Warrington on a one-year deal.

Wigan have six players in the England A squad to play Australia at Brentford next week. Sean O'Loughlin will captain a side which could also include Gareth Hock, Martin Aspinwall, Sean Briscoe, Danny Sculthorpe and Danny Tickle.

Bradford's Stuart Reardon is also in the squad for the opening match of the Kangaroos' tour, along with St Helens' Martin Gleeson, who has been relegated from the full Great Britain party.

England A have also named a slightly different squad for the European Nations Cup, in which they are to play Wales and Russia in the group stages. The Castleford wing Waine Pryce, Wakefield's Jamie Rooney, and the London pair of Paul Sykes and Rob Purdham have been included.

Jason Hooper has become the second St Helens player, after the Great Britain hooker, Keiron Cunningham, to need a knee operation.

Terry Newton, the Wigan hooker who is favourite to take Cunningham's place in the Ashes series, will miss this week's training camp in Spain because of his wife's pregnancy.

The Wigan utility player, Paul Johnson, also needs an operation after damaging his hand in an accident after the Grand Final.