Rugby League: Court decides McGuire can play for Eagles

BRUCE McGUIRE, the Sheffield Eagles forward at the centre of an international transfer dispute, has been cleared to play for the club until the end of the season.

McGuire has been fighting a claim from Canterbury, his former club in Australia, that Sheffield should pay a fee for him. League authorities in Britain and Australia back Canterbury's claim, but a County Court judge has ruled that an injunction preventing the suspension of his registration should stand.

'The Rugby League have now said that they will go to the High Court,' Gary Hetherington, the Sheffield Eagles chairman, said. 'It looks as though they are trying to frighten him with the expense, but our supporters have started a fighting fund under the title of 'Keep Bruce Loose'. A lot of Wigan fans contributed to it when they came to Sheffield on Sunday.'

Betty Boothroyd, the Speaker of the House of Commons, is to present the Challenge Cup at Wembley on 30 April. Boothroyd is originally from Dewsbury and she might be expected to have some sympathy with Leeds in their final against Wigan.

Craig Innes, the former All Black centre who will play for Leeds in the final, has turned down an approach from Canterbury to play for them in Australia when the English season.