Plange leaves struggling Wolves

Warrington have parted company with their head coach, David Plange, by mutual consent.

Plange has failed to turn around the Super League strugglers' fortunes since taking over from Steve Anderson in April and leaves the club third from bottom of the table. The former Castleford winger Plange moved to Wilderspool from Leeds to work under Anderson following Darryl van de Velde's departure last season.

However, Warrington suffered a disastrous start to this season as they slumped to the bottom of the table and the new captain, Matt Rodwell, was forced to retire through injury. The club have lost their last three games and remain in danger of relegation.

The assistant coach, Paul Darbyshire, has been named in temporary charge until a permanent appointment is made.

Leeds have signed Wigan's former Australian Test forward David Furner for next season. The second rower, 32, a high-profile transfer from Canberra Raiders two years ago, is out of contract at the end of the season and has become a victim of the club's salary cap.

"David is a top-quality player who has played at the highest level all of his career," the Rhinos coach Daryl Powell said.

Furner, who has agreed a 12-month contract with Leeds, played eight times for New South Wales and toured Britain with the 1994 Kangaroos. He scored more than 1,000 points for Canberra.

"I came over here to win, or be involved in Challenge Cup and Grand Finals and Leeds are a club that can do that," Furner said.