Castleford consider legal action over ruling on wages

Castleford may take the Rugby League to court over the ruling that the club was wrong to stop paying some of its players when their relegation from Super League was confirmed in October.

An advisory panel hearing this week decided that the Tigers should pay Motu Tony and Paul Mellor, who have since both left the club, until the end of November. The judgment could prove expensive for the National League One club as there are about six other players in a similar position and they have consulted their trade union.

"We were not happy with the process at the tribunal," said the Castleford chief executive, Richard Wright. "We intend to discuss the matter with our legal advisors. Clubs have to be allowed to take steps to protect themselves in case their business suffers a major setback, such as relegation."

The new Blackpool Panthers club has completed its recruitment for its first season in National League Two by signing the former Wigan and Salford forward, Matthew Leigh, from Barrow.

St Helens are to give debuts to newly-signed Test forwards Paul Anderson and New Zealander Michael Smith in their Boxing Day friendly against Leigh.