Hudson appeal fails to reduce drug ban

Ryan Hudson has failed in his appeal against his two-year suspension for taking a banned steroid. The Yorkshire and England forward tested positive for stanazolol a few days after joining Bradford in December and was found guilty by a Rugby League panel three weeks ago and sacked by the club.

Ryan Hudson has failed in his appeal against his two-year suspension for taking a banned steroid. The Yorkshire and England forward tested positive for stanazolol a few days after joining Bradford in December and was found guilty by a Rugby League panel three weeks ago and sacked by the club.

Hudson was appealing yesterday against the severity of the punishment, but a hearing in front of three different arbitrators decided that it should stand.

Widnes, next to bottom of Super League, have strengthened their squad for the relegation fight by signing Gray Viane from St Helens. Viane, a centre or back-rower, joined Saints from Wests-Tigers towards the end of last season, making four first team appearances. The arrivals of Jamie Lyon and Vinnie Anderson have blocked his opportunities and he has not played this season.

The 22-year-old, who has a Samoan passport and does not count on the overseas quota, has signed for the rest of this season and is likely to make his debut at Hull a week on Sunday.

Widnes have also signed the Warrington scrum-half, Jamie Durban, initially on a one-month loan.

The agent for the Melbourne Storm scrum-half Matt Orford says that Warrington have made a big offer to him for next season. Orford is generally regarded as the best uncapped scrum-half in Australia and four other British clubs are said to be interested in acquiring his services when his contract runs out at the end of the year.

Warrington will be without Toa Kohe-Love for their Challenge Cup tie at Leeds tomorrow. The centre aggravated a shoulder injury in the win over Widnes on Tuesday.

Blackpool Panthers have appointed Willie Swann as player-coach to work alongside their team-manager, Kevin Ashcroft.

Tony Rea has left the New Zealand Test scrum-half Thomas Leuluai out of the side to play Hunslet in their Powergen Challenge Cup tie on Sunday.