Lokomotiv rely on experience

Lokomotiv Moscow have plenty of experience of battling against overwhelming odds on British soil. Six of the squad that face Leigh in the Challenge Cup tonight were in the Russian side that took some heavy beatings here in the 2000 World Cup.

"It was a big experience for us. We had games in the toughest group, against England, Australia and Fiji," said their forward, Petr Sokolov, yesterday.

Lokomotiv have strengthened for this latest venture by signing Russia's leading player, Robert Iliassov, from Strella Kazan. Iliassov is the first-ever winner of the Golden Ball, for the outstanding player from a rising rugby league nation, and Sokolov believes he will add much to his new side.

"He's a leader," he said. "He makes a real difference to us, because he is a big player."

Iliassov has shone in positions as various as wing, scrum-half and loose forward, but he is expected to be in the second row at Leigh tonight.

"We know nothing about Leigh, but that is always the same for us, every time we come here," said Sokolov, who figured in the Lokomotiv side that lost to Dewsbury and Workington last spring.

Tomorrow, the Cup focus will switch to France, with their Super League candidates, Union Treize Catalan, at Gateshead, Toulouse at Salford, Villeneuve at Featherstone and Pia at Hunslet. At least a couple should progress.

The former Bradford coach, Matthew Elliott, has failed in a attempt to sign Nathan McAvoy for his current club, Canberra. McAvoy has decided to leave Bradford for rugby union and, although Saracens have still to confirm his signing, England have already included him in their Sevens squad.

Huddersfield's Marcus St Hilaire has been added to the England squad for the rugby league World Sevens in Sydney next weekend. He replaces St Helens' Anthony Stewart, who is injured, and completes a remarkable double, having played union sevens for England in the Commonwealth Games.

The British Amateur Rugby League Association will decide tomorrow whether to accept re-unification with the Rugby Football League or risk losing its funding from Sport England.