Hull KR sack academy coaches caught drinking before match

The Hull Kingston Rovers chief executive, Nick Halafihi, has defended his decision to sack two of the club's coaches for drinking before a match.

Des Harrison and Mick Crane, with almost three decades at Rovers between them, were dismissed from their roles with the club's Under-21 Academy side after being seen enjoying a pint before a first-team match at which they were acting as assistants.

"I just won't have a drinks culture at this club," Halafihi said. "I had taken five scholarship players up to the bar, telling them what a professional set-up we have, only to find two coaches drinking before the game.

"It was such a cardinal sin that they had to go. What message would it have given to first-team players if they had smelled drink on their breath?"

Halafihi admits that there has been a mixed reaction to the sackings from fans. "People don't like Des being sacked after 17 years at the club, but our head coach, Steve Linnane, was absolutely disgusted and he was right behind the action I took," he said.

Jason Smith, captain of Hull, has been told that he has no case to answer over a suspected high tackle in the game at Warrington on Sunday, as has the Wolves' Graham Appo, reported for an alleged trip, but Halifax's Lee Finnerty will face a hearing today on a high tackle charge.

Wakefield's prop, Clinton O'Brien, has retired after just four games for the club. O'Brien arrived from the Newcastle Knights this season, but says he has lost his motivation.

London's young front-row forward, Mark Cox, who played in the shock win at Wigan on Friday, is out for the season after suffering a broken leg and facial injuries in a car crash.

Widnes have suffered an injury blow with their centre, Deon Bird, put out for six weeks with a broken jaw.

Wigan could be without their captain, Andy Farrell, for their Challenge Cup semi-final against Bradford on 12 April, because of his slow recovery from a knee operation. Bradford's Brian Noble has confirmed that he does not want to coach Yorkshire this year.

*The former Lions centre Scott Gibbs has lined up a return to league this summer. The 32-year-old Swansea back, who played for St Helens from 1994-96 and was a member of their double-winning side, has offered to play for the newly-formed Bridgend Blue Bulls in the Welsh Conference.