Australian will coach Kiwis

New Zealand have broken new ground by appointing an Australian coach for the first time, with Daniel Anderson taking over from Gary Freeman. Freeman has lost his job following last autumn's drawn series in Britain, partly because of his unwillingness to move back to New Zealand. Anderson is already based there as coach of the New Zealand Warriors, the successful club side playing in Australia's National Rugby League.

Anderson led the Warriors to the Grand Final last year in his first full season in charge and his appointment means that the three major Test-playing nations – four if you include Papua New Guinea – are coached by Australians. The NZRL chairman, Selwyn Pearson, admitted that it had been a big decision to appoint an outsider.

Anderson beat off the challenge of Kiwi-born contenders headed by the former Hull full-back Gary Kemble and will be in charge of the national side for the first time when they play Australia on 25 July.

The Great Britain international Paul Sculthorpe has had a scan to try to find the cause of the back injury that is likely to keep him out of St Helens' Challenge Cup quarter-final at Salford on Sunday. Hull, who play Leeds the same day, will definitely be without their injury-plagued forward Warren Jowitt, who will be out of action for four months with a pelvic injury and could need an operation to save his career.

The Leeds captain, Kevin Sinfield, is their big doubt for the match. Sinfield played at Warrington last weekend despite straining his back in the pre-match warm-up.

The draw for the semi-finals of the Cup is to be held next Tuesday in Cardiff, which will host the final for the first time on 26 April.

Castleford are looking at building a new stadium to replace the one on Wheldon Road that has been their home throughout their League existence.