Wigan join Bradford to fight cuts in salary cap

Wigan have given notice that they will join Bradford in taking legal action aimed at preventing any reduction in the Super League salary cap.

Castleford have led a group of clubs who want to lower the £1.8m top limit that they can spend on players' wages, but they will be unable to do so without a battle with two of the competition's leading lights.

"Why should we be trying to invest less in our sport when all the signs are there that we should be investing more in players and player production?" the Wigan chairman, Maurice Lindsay, said. The Rugby League declined to comment on the threat yesterday.

The Great Britain second-rower Jamie Peacock will captain Bradford in their World Club Challenge against Penrith at the McAlpine Stadium next Friday. Peacock will lead the club for the first time in the absence of Robbie Paul and Paul Deacon, and the announcement is the clearest indication so far that Paul will not be fit in time. The Bulls' club captain will see a specialist about the bone graft on his broken arm two days before the match but has said he would risk further injury in order to play.

Penrith have named 11 members of the starting team that won the National League Grand Final. Brett Howland comes in for the injured Ryan Girdler and Trent Waterhouse for Scott Sattler, who has left the club.

The third round of the Powergen Challenge Cup, the last before the entry of Super League clubs, begins with four ties tonight. Sheffield Eagles face a tricky away tie at Leigh Miners Rangers, who have been in good form in the National Conference.

Chorley host Lokomotiv Moscow, who will be hoping to show a marked improvement on their 62-0 defeat by Leigh at the same stage last year. Lokomotiv will have two New Zealanders, Dana Wilson and Taylor Perense, in their line-up.

Sharlston, from a village with a great rugby league tradition, take on the professionals of Dewsbury at Featherstone, while the amateurs of Castleford Panthers go to Oldham.

The London Broncos will make club history on Sunday when they field an all-English starting line-up for Terry O'Connor's testimonial at Orrell.

Whitehaven, of National League One, have announced plans to upgrade their stadium to Super League standards, raising its capacity from 5,000 to 9,000.

The former Salford, Wakefield and Swinton centre Kris Tassell has joined Doncaster.

The Australian Test coach, Chris Anderson, has begun a A$1.3m (£540,000) claim for wrongful dismissal against his former club, Cronulla.

The game's International Federation and the fund-raising organisation 1895 International have agreed to finance development in Lebanon.