Goulding asked to stay on as France coach

Bobbie Goulding is staying on as French coach after withdrawing his threat to quit. Goulding offered his resignation after the 38-18 defeat by the second-string England Knights.

"There's too much friction between the Catalans and the French Federation and it's not fair on the boys who are caught in the middle," he said. All but four of the players on duty on Saturday were from the Dragons' successful Super League squad, but tensions between club and country have been growing. The Federation, however, has asked the ex-Test half-back to go on.

"The federation made it clear they don't want me to resign," he said. "They want me to carry on and I have their full backing."

Warrington's Richie Myler, with ambitions to get back into the senior England squad, was the outstanding player at the Leigh Sports Village, scoring a try and setting up another for Jodie Broughton.

There was a Four Nations warning as Australia thrashed New Zealand 42-6 in their warm-up for the tournament. And the former Kangaroo full-back, Anthony Minichiello, was the star for Italy as they hammered Russia 92-6 in a World Cup qualifier.