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Rugby League: Hull prepared to recruit for Super League

Sunday 06 July 1997 23:02 BST
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Hull will be in next season's Super League, but they may not look much like the side that clinched promotion and the First Division championship at Huddersfield on Saturday, writes Dave Hadfield.

A 31-18 win over the one club still in pursuit confirmed that what is potentially one of the game's biggest operations will be back in its natural setting next year.

"But now the hard work starts," said their chairman Tim Wilby. "I've seen the enthusiasm of Hull supporters as a player, so it doesn't surprise me. They want to support winners."

They have had winners to support throughout the First Division season. But Wilby and his chief executive Peter Tunks know that extensive rebuilding will be required for next year.

Josh White, the London scrum-half, was there to see promotion won and others on the shopping list include the Australian Test forward Ian Roberts, and the Fijian prop James Pickering.

So it will be "thank you and goodbye" to many of the players who have got them into the top flight.

The position of their coach, Phil Sigsworth, is also uncertain. Although it is impossible to quibble with his record, and he has considerable support among players and supporters, he has looked doomed since Peter Walsh was brought in as director of coaching in mid-season.

Like a number of his players, he is likely to become a victim of success.

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