Langer to dust off boots for Brisbane

The former Australian Test scrum-half Allan Langer has confirmed that he is coming out of retirement in time for his 36th birthday.

Langer has retired twice – midway through a season with the Brisbane Broncos in 1999, and again last year from Warrington. However, he has now decided to have one last season with the Broncos, something that the club's chief executive, Shane Edwards, describes as being akin to Michael Jordan returning to the Chicago Bulls.

"He's an icon at the club,'' he said. "When he's around the whole place just lifts.''

Kevin Walters, a team-mate at Brisbane and Warrington, has no doubts about Langer's ability to make a successful comeback, even at an age when he will be the oldest player in the National Rugby League. "Alfie gambles on plenty of other things, but I don't think he's gambling on this,'' he said.

Langer, who left Warrington after struggling against a persistent leg injury, is anxious not to let down the Broncos. "I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think I was capable of it."

Sheffield Eagles have offered to help Gateshead Thunder, by switching a fixture. The Thunder, whose future has been in doubt over the past two weeks, are not due to have a home match until 3 March – something that could strain their already paper-thin finances still further.

However, the Eagles have offered to bring forward their match scheduled for May to 24 February, the Sunday set aside for the next round of the Challenge Cup, from which both clubs have been eliminated. "We want to help Gateshead's fight to keep rugby league alive in the North-East,'' the Sheffield chief executive, Brian Aston, said.

The Thunder say they will be able to raise a team for their match at Oldham on Sunday, their first since dispensing with their core of West Yorkshire based players.