Great Britain call Deacon back from wilderness

Paul Deacon has been recalled to the Great Britain squad preparing for this autumn's Test series against New Zealand.

The Bradford scrum-half did not figure in last year's Tri-Nations in the southern hemisphere, or in the Test against France this summer – Tony Smith's first match in charge.

Deacon was also absent with a hamstring injury as the Bulls crashed out of the Super League play-offs at the hands of a resurgent Wigan on Friday. He has not played for his country since suffering horrific facial injuries in the Tri-Nations match against New Zealand in 2005 and must have suspected that his international career was over.

However, the retirement from Tests of Sean Long seems to have created a vacancy for an experienced No 7.

Deacon is joined in the squad by four of his team-mates – Terry Newton, Andy Lynch and the previously uncapped Michael Platt and Sam Burgess. Kevin Brown and Stephen Wild of Huddersfield are also included.

David Hodgson, the Great Britain utility back who is also in the squad for this autumn, has expanded Huddersfield's former Wigan contingent by joining the Giants on a four-year contract.

The 26-year-old, who was relegated with Salford, was linked with a possible return to the JJB, but chose instead to become part of Jon Sharp's team strengthening for next season.

"There's no doubt I've made the right choice by coming to the Huddersfield Giants," Hodgson said. "They are definitely one of the clubs who are going to be a major force in Super League for years to come."

He joins the former Wigan players Martin Aspinwall, Stuart Jones, Wild and Brown at the Galpharm, with Luke Robinson also making the same move from Salford. Another player widely linked with Wigan, the Hull KR prop, Danny Ward, has instead opted to join Harlequins on a two-year contract.

Leeds are to play South Sydney in a pre-season game in Florida as part of the link-up between the two clubs. The Rhinos and Souths, who are now part-owned by the actor Russell Crowe, are to hold a joint two-week training camp in Jacksonville, ending with the match on 26 January.