Smith set for first Kiwis start in France

Castleford's Michael Smith is in line to make his New Zealand Test debut against France in Perpignan on Saturday. Smith was in the Kiwis' squad for the British leg of their tour – being the 18th man for the third Test at Wigan last week was the closest he came to winning a cap.

He will get his chance in Perpignan because New Zealand have lost yet another player, their hooker Richard Swain, who is flying home to begin pre-season training with his new club, the Brisbane Broncos. That will mean Monty Betham moving to hooker and a place on the bench for Smith, one of the stars of the Super League season with Cas.

The game in France is at its lowest ebb following the recent defeat by Lebanon and the Rugby League's executive chairman, Richard Lewis, believes part of the answer to reviving the game there could lie in reinstating a side from France in Super League from 2004.

Lewis is impressed with what he has seen of Toulouse's bid, whilst Villeneuve and Perpignan have also expressed interest in being France's first representatives since the demise of Paris St-Germain.

"It would be a great thing to have more variety," said Lewis. "But the biggest benefit would be to French rugby league, just like the Warriors have boosted the game in New Zealand."

Chorley Lynx, who have been recruiting extensively for next season, have signed two more players. Centre or full back, Mark McCulley, has joined them from Leigh, while the reserve hooker, Dave McConnell, has arrived from St Helens. Chorley's new coach, Darren Abram, says he also plans to use McConnell as a loose forward and a half-back.

Leigh are hoping to sign the former Great Britain front rower, Sonny Nickle, who has been released by Saints. Nickle is now 33, but the Leigh coach, Paul Terzis, believes he still has a year or two left in him.

The Bradford winger, Leon Pryce, who played in all three Tests for Great Britain against New Zealand this month, has been charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm over an incident in a night club in September.