Morrison signs for Widnes

Widnes have continued their rebuilding for next season by signing no less than seven players, headed by Hull KR's Iain Morrison.

The Vikings, starting from scratch after coming out of administration and being re-admitted to National League One, have enlisted the Scotland international forward following his release by Rovers. He is a player Widnes' Steve McCormack knows well, having coached him for Scotland.

The club has also recruited another international in Ireland prop Martin McLoughlin from Batley, plus five teenagers, four of them products of their scholarship scheme.

Widnes are also being linked with two Halifax players. The Welsh forward, Phil Joseph, and the former Salford and Harlequins stand-off, Tim Hartley, have both failed to agree new contracts at The Shay.

The Vikings' new owner, Steve O'Connor, will make money available for further signings, with a new scrum-half the priority. "We will soon have the majority of our squad in place and Steve is aware that there will be transfer opportunities," O'Connor said. "He is particularly looking for a half-back and we have been disappointed to miss out on one or two, but he is talking to somebody at the moment for that particular position."

Widnes re-signed five of last season's squad earlier this week.

The Newcastle Knights have denied that they are about to release the former Australia Test captain, Danny Buderus. Meanwhile the Rugby Football League is to announce its fixtures for the 2008 season tomorrow.

Amateur clubs have been asked to observe a minute's silence at their matches this weekend in memory of the former Warrington and Great Britain captain, Mike Gregory, who died from a form of motor neurone disease this week at the age of 43.