Warrington put 14 up for sale

Rugby League

Warrington have prepared for a clear-out by putting 14 players, including the Great Britain internationals Andy Currier and Mike Ford, on the transfer list.

Currier, signed from Featherstone last year, and Ford, recruited from the South Queensland Crushers, are on offer at pounds 35,000, with other recent first-teamers like Andy Bennett, Chris Eckersley and Dave King also available. Paul Darbyshire and Damien Whitter are the top-priced players at pounds 45,000.

Ford is already in Fiji with the England squad for the World Nines. Denis Betts, who was to captain the side, has been forced to withdraw by an ankle injury sustained in the Auckland Warriors' trial game against the Sydney Bulldogs at the weekend. Paul Broadbent, the Sheffield Eagles forward, has flown out as his replacement and a new captain will be named later this week.

Sonny Whakarau, the New Zealander released by the Eagles and recently on loan to Wakefield Trinity, has signed for Keighley in a deal financed by a local businessman.

Oldham, preparing for life in Super League, have signed the back-row forward Matt Munro from the Sydney Tigers. Munro, 24, has considerable experience in the Winfield Cup and has agreed a two-year contract.

Blackpool Gladiators, rebuffed in their attempts to win re-election to the Second Division, have challenged the new club based in South Wales to a friendly before the start of the summer season.

Blackpool want to play the newly elected members of the league at Aberavon on 24 March, a week before they make their competitive debut against Hull Kingston Rovers.

The League's board of directors will view the match video and decide today whether any players, other than the sent-off John Bentley and Jean- Marc Garcia, have any case to answer following clashes in the Halifax- Sheffield Challenge Cup tie on Sunday.

Suspension would cost Bentley, and any other Halifax player called up before the disciplinary committee, the chance of playing against Leeds in the quarter-final this Sunday.