Rugby League: Wigan and St Helens paired in last eight of Challenge Cup

WIGAN and St Helens, opponents so often in knock-out rugby over recent years, have been drawn together again in the quarter-finals of the Silk Cut Challenge Cup.

Saints, the holders for the past two years, must concede home advantage to Wigan, favourites for this year's competition. The London Broncos have the plum draw, at home to the one surviving team from the First Division, Hull Kingston Rovers, whose neighbours, Hull, must go to Salford.

Castleford, the conquerors of Leeds and Bradford, are at home to Sheffield who, like London, are in the last eight for the first time.

The Rugby League has complained to the BBC over the snubbing of the sport on Saturday night. The tie between Castleford and Bradford was the centrepiece of Grandstand but was ignored in the sports round-up on both main BBC1 news bulletins. The League has received a number of adverse comments about the BBC and its broadcast manager, Dave Callaghan, is to take up the matter with the corporation.

The former Great Britain coach, Malcolm Reilly, is to return to Britain in September, ending his successful association with the Newcastle Knights. Reilly has decided to come home to be near his elderly parents, news that will interest several Super League clubs, in particular St Helens, whose coach, Shaun McRae, is due to end his contract this year.

SILK CUT CHALLENGE CUP Quarter-final draw: London Broncos v Hull Kingston Rovers; Salford v Hull; Castleford v Sheffield; Wigan v St Helens. (Ties to be played 14 or 15 March).