Wasps target Wigan players

Emboldened by the significant finance that will come their way if they link with Queen's Park Rangers, Wasps yesterday entered the market with Bath for the leading rugby league players who impressed playing for Wigan at Twickenham.

"If Lawrence Dallaglio has his way, Wasps will be signing Wigan's Andy Farrell and Henry Paul," Dallaglio, the captain of Wasps, declared.

The idea of some form of temporary exchange has been given credence by Jack Robinson, the Wigan chairman. Phil de Glanville and Jonathan Callard in particular are interesting Wigan, and Bath would consider just about every Wigan player, though Farrell is currently at the top of everyone's list.

"He is a big man so he can play in the forwards, but he can equally play in the backs because his pace is astonishing," Dallaglio said. "He is incredibly quick and kicks goals, so from a rugby union point of view he has everything you could want. I'll try to persuade the club to make Farrell an offer.

"There are obviously other matters which need to be resolved, not least the QPR situation, but we have meetings from time to time and he is certainly one I would like to put forward as a suitable candidate. Having said that, if Bath are already in the ball game, then obviously we are competing and we'll have to move fairly fast.''

The possibility of losing some of his players to union is alarming Graeme West, the Wigan coach. "Several of our players were approached after the game at Twickenham but it will need an official approach before the matter can go any further," he said.

Double rugby international Rowland Phillips is to return to union with Treorchy at the end of the first Super League campaign. The 30-year-old forward will see out the remainder of the Super League season with Workington before joining the Heineken League side on a one-year contract.

Gareth Thomas scored five tries as Wales opened their tour of Australia with a 62-20 hammering of Western Australia at the WACA ground in Perth yesterday. Thomas, who switched from centre to wing in the second half, ran in four of the tries during a 24-minute period. Wales scored 10 tries in all.