Farrell ready to lead England's challenge

An England squad captained by Wigan's Andy Farrell is to go into camp in Florida leading up to this autumn's World Cup - and will play a first-ever international against the USA.

An England squad captained by Wigan's Andy Farrell is to go into camp in Florida leading up to this autumn's World Cup - and will play a first-ever international against the USA.

Farrell, also the current Great Britain captain, will lead a 24-man party, to be named on 17 September, to America a month later - the day after the Super League Grand Final.

England's opening match is against Australia at Twickenham on 28 October, exactly a week after the warm-up international against the Americans - who are to compete in the Emerging Nations World Championship - in Orlando.

David Waite, the Australian whose short-term appointment as Britain's international coaching consultant covers the World Cup, will run his first session for an English club side today when he puts Huddersfield-Sheffield players through a skills drill at the request of Jeff Hardy, who, with Phil Veivers, is caretaker-coach of the Giants. "It's something that is available to any club that thinks I can be of help," said Waite, the former Newcastle and St George-Illawarra coach.

Huddersfield-Sheffield have denied a move for the All Black winger Tana Umaga but are interested in taking Leroy Rivett on loan from Leeds. The winger won the Lance Todd Trophy when he scored four tries at Wembley 15 months ago, but has been hampered by injury and loss of form since and is expected to be released when his contract expires at the end of this season.

Dewsbury, whose application for Super League membership will be considered by the Rugby League Council today, are now hoping to have both ends of their compact ground at Ram Stadium redeveloped to bring it in line with the division's criteria for the start of next season.

The club, which won the Northern Ford Premiership by beating Leigh in the Grand Final on Saturday, have an agreement to play home games at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield, but now describe that as a contingency arrangement.

The chief executive of Hull, Shane Richardson, has called suggestions that he wants to sell his shares in the club "total rubbish".