Rugby Union: Gregory comes full circle

ANDY GREGORY is poised to play his second game for Salford, almost 15 years to the day after his first.

The scrum-half completed his pounds 10,000 transfer from Leeds yesterday and is in line to play at Hull Kingston Rovers on Saturday. Now 32, he made his first appearance for Salford as a trialist in November 1978.

He was man of the match against Barrow that day, but Salford hesitated and Widnes swooped to sign the 17-year- old. He has won 26 Great Britain caps and made a record eight Wembley Challenge Cup final appearances since.

Graham Holroyd of Leeds, Mark Perrett of Halifax and Castleford's Nathan Sykes - all uncapped at junior level - are included in the Great Britain Under-21 squad to play France at Warrington on 2 December. Dean Busby of Hull, who missed the Under-21 match against New Zealand last month, is also brought in.

Clubs from Wales and the south of England are among the 64 non-league sides in the first-round draw today for the restructured Silk Cut Challenge Cup. Cardiff Institute and London Colonials will be trying to pass the first hurdle on the weekend of 4 December. The 16 teams who progress beyond the second round will qualify to meet professional opposition.

The third-round Regal Trophy tie between St Helens and Warrington on 11 December will be televised live.