Millward on leave after son, 19, dies of heart attack

The Castleford coach, Ian Millward, is on compassionate leave after the death of his 19-year-old son. Robbie Millward suffered a heart attack at his home in Leigh on Sunday morning. He died in hospital in Bolton that night.

"Robbie was a healthy young boy who died from a condition called Sudden Adult Death Syndrome, which comprises a massive heart attack," said his father in a statement. "The sudden nature of his death is making it even harder to come to terms with."

Millward's assistant, Stuart Donlan, will take charge of the Tigers' next game, at home to Wigan on Sunday. Millward, who has coached Leigh twice, St Helens and Wigan, was appointed as Cas coach last year and was with his squad on the way home from a defeat at the Catalan Dragons when he was told the tragic news. The Rugby Football League has extended its condolences.

The Widnes pro Ben Kavanagh is facing six months out after rupturing his Achilles tendon on his club's new artificial pitch. Kavanagh appeared to catch his studs in the surface.

Widnes were given permission by the RFL to become the first club to play on an iPitch. Several Salford players wore tights at the Stobart Stadium, after complaints of cut knees when Wakefield played there. Widnes said last night that Kavanagh's injury was "an unfortunate injury but has no direct link to the performance of the pitch".

The Leeds second-rower Jamie Jones-Buchanan will miss one match after aggravating a knee injury in the World Club Challenge victory over Manly on Friday.

Bradford's James Donaldson will be out for six months with ruptured knee ligaments, while Tommy Lee of Huddersfield faces a high tackle charge today along with Hull's Sam Moa.