Drugs ban for Morley

Chris Morley, the Welsh international forward, has been banned for three months after testing positive for the banned stimulant, ephedrine. Unless he appeals successfully within the next 14 days, Morley will miss Wales' international against New Zealand next month, as well as Leigh's Northern Ford Premiership Grand Final against Huddersfield on Saturday.

Morley, the brother of the Great Britain forward, Adrian Morley, and previously with Salford and Sheffield Eagles, has played his last game for Leigh who, before his drug test failure came to light, had told him they were not offering him a contract for next season.

Morley has told the club that he took a Chinese energy-boosting preparation bought over the counter, without knowing that it contained ephedrine, which was not listed among the ingredients.

"While the Leigh club does not condone substance abuse, be it with recreational or performance-enhancing drugs, we do believe that Chris is the victim of his naivety," said the Leigh chairman, Mike Nolan.

Morley is the first player to be punished for a doping control report since UK Sport – the body in charge of the testing – issued its annual breakdown of statistics last month that showed rugby league, along with power-lifting, as the sport with the most drug-test failures.

A Warrington player is currently under investigation after returning a positive sample and the Warrington hooker, David Highton, was banned for 12 months last year after testing positive for steroids.

Wakefield Trinity have signed the winger, Jon Wells, from Castleford on a two-year contract and have re-signed two forwards who figured in their successful campaign to avoid relegation, Troy Slattery and Jamie Field. The Frenchman, Olivier Elima, who played for Castleford last season, has also joined the Wildcats.

Featherstone Rovers have released seven first-team players as their coach, Andy Kelly, aims to improve his squad for an assault on the NFP next season. Rovers also fear that they might lose a player they want to keep, their second-rower, Neil Lowe, to a better offer from relegated Salford.

The Australian referee, Steven Clark, has been put in charge of the three Tests on New Zealand's British tour next month, following the two countries' decision to revert to neutral referees.

Andrew Lomu, New Zealand's new cap for their Test against Australia on Saturday, has joined the rest of the squad after being delayed by a lost passport. The Kiwis' second-rower, Ali Lauiti'iti, has been cleared to play after pleading guilty to a careless high tackle charge.