Peacock strut to England's liking

Bradford's young back-rower, Jamie Peacock, has played his way into England's side for their World Cup quarter-final against Ireland at Headingley on Saturday. The England coach, John Kear, is delaying naming his side, but announced yesterday that Peacock will be in the 17 after impressive displays against the United States in the warm-up match and against Russia and Fiji in the group stage of the tournament.

Bradford's young back-rower, Jamie Peacock, has played his way into England's side for their World Cup quarter-final against Ireland at Headingley on Saturday. The England coach, John Kear, is delaying naming his side, but announced yesterday that Peacock will be in the 17 after impressive displays against the United States in the warm-up match and against Russia and Fiji in the group stage of the tournament.

"We have a players' player of the match award and he has won two of them," Kear said. "I'm a great believer in the players selecting the team and the coach announcing it and he has forced his way in with his performances."

The English pack will still be without Paul Sculthorpe, although he would be fit for a semi-final, but Adrian Morley is able to return after sitting out the Fiji game last week with a sternum injury.

Wales are hoping to get clearance from Swansea for Paul Moriarty to be available for their quarter-final against Papua New Guinea at Widnes on Sunday. He will come into the squad for the injured Dave Whittle, but the Welsh coach, Clive Griffiths, has not decided yet whether to play him.

Wigan will announce the signing today of Mark Hilton, the England prop whose career has been so badly interrupted by injury that he has been released by Warrington.

Bradford are poised to add the Sydney City back-rower, Scott Rigon, to the New Zealand prop, Joe Vagana, as they build their forward strength for next season. Rigon can also play at centre and will be a direct replacement for his fellow-Australian, David Boyle.

The Bulls have reached agreement to play all next season's home games at Bradford City's Valley Parade, despite not yet knowing the starting date for a complete reconstruction of Odsal. St Helens are to play all their home Super League matches on a Friday night.

London Broncos are being linked with the Parramatta half-back Dennis Moran. The London coach, Tony Rea, has talked to Moran, but not signed him yet. He has signed the Leeds assistant coach Damian McGrath who is to take up the same post at The Valley. McGrath, currently helping England, will begin his new job on 1 December.

Super League is looking at a fixture format for next season under which clubs will play four extra games against teams from their own half of the table and one club no less than four times.

Those four-time pairings are likely to be the ones with strong local derby appeal, which means that Wigan could play St Helens eight times - four times in Super League, twice in the play-offs, once in the Challenge Cup and once on Boxing Day in a friendly.

The former Wigan hooker, Martin Hall, has been appointed as coach of Rochdale Hornets.