Referee Ganson vows to clear his name after town-centre arrest

(GETTY IMAGES)

Britain's leading referee Steve Ganson has employed solicitors to clear his name following his arrest during an altercation in St Helens.

Ganson was arrested but not charged after an incident in a taxi queue in the town centre on Saturday night. It is understood Ganson will try to show that his partner was assaulted and that he himself committed no offence.

Gareth Hock is facing an automatic two-year suspension following Wigan's announcement that a second sample from the player has tested positive for cocaine. The England second-rower returned a positive test after the game against Salford last month. Now that his B sample has given the same result, he will appear in the next two months before the National Anti-Doping Panel to learn his fate. It is almost certain to be the maximum two-year ban, which will make him 27 before he can play again.

Hull have tackled their front-row crisis by signing the Parramatta prop Josh Cordoba for the rest of the season. Cordoba, who has a Spanish passport, is needed to help fill the gap left by injuries to Ewan Dowes, Peter Cusack and Jamie Thackray.

Harlequins' David Howell has been suspended for three matches after being found guilty of a high tackle on Sam Tomkins of Wigan, for which he became the first player sent off in Super League this season.