Cayless to miss first Test

New Zealand have delayed naming their side to face Great Britain in the first Test of their series, but will definitely be without their prop, Jason Cayless, who is still has flu.

The other flu victim, David Vaealiki, has been able to return to training and is likely to take up his place at full-back, although Robbie Paul could yet be preferred. The New Zealand coach, Gary Freeman, expects the others who have been having treatment to be fit in time for Ewood Park. "I'm just delaying it to see how a couple of blokes come through," he said.

One of Great Britain's assistant coaches, Graham Steadman, has agreed a two-year contract extension at Castleford. His No 2, the New Zealander Gary Mercer, has also signed on for another year following the pair's success in steering Cas into the Super League play-offs last season.

Dave Whittle and Gareth Price, who played for Wales against the Kiwis on Sunday, are among 15 players being released by Leigh. The experienced centre, Jon Roper, is another not being retained, but Leigh have signed Damian Munro from Widnes.

The game's newest professional club, the London Skolars, have made their first major signing – the former Wigan centre and Samoan World Cup player, Paul Koloi. The club is also contemplating a name change to the Middlesex Skolars for next season.

The other new team in the league, the revived York, have signed the Hull KR prop, Rich Hayes, who previously played for the old York outfit.

The England A coach, John Kear, has brought Wigan's Ricky Bibey, Jamie Jones-Buchanan of Leeds, Bradford's Stuart Reardon and the St Helens trio of Mick Higham, Ade Gardner and Mark Edmondson into his side to play Fiji in Lautoka tomorrow, the first match of their South Pacific tour.