Sydney ready to make flying visit

The Australian champions, the Sydney City Roosters, are ready to abandon their plans to play a warm-up game in Britain before their World Club Challenge against St Helens on 14 February. The Roosters had intended to play at Widnes the previous week, but that plan was scuppered by the Rugby League, who feared that it could detract from the main event.

They then explored the possibilities of playing in London or France and even threatened to send a reserve-strength team to Britain if something could not be arranged. Having looked at the costs involved, however, they are now likely to settle for a "hit and run" trip – circumstances under which several Australian clubs have been defeated in the past.

Hull's Great Britain international, Richard Horne, has agreed a new contract that will keep him with the club until the end of the 2006 season. Horne, who figured in two of the Tests against New Zealand last month, had a year to run on his current contract, but wants to commit himself for the longer term.

"This is a massive signing for us," Hull's coach, Shaun McRae, said. "It's fantastic news, because here we have a player who is only 20 and yet has played 99 Super League games and represented Great Britain on five occasions already."

Horne, who has frequently been used at centre and full-back, could get more opportunities to play in his favoured half-back positions following the collapse of Hull's bid for Ryan Sheridan.

Strela Kazan, the first Russian club to be included in the draw for the Challenge Cup, are preparing for their second-round tie against the Hull amateur side, Embassy, with warm-weather training in Dubai. Embassy hope to play the tie at Hull KR's Craven Park.

Featherstone, who have lost a number of last season's squad, have made two signings for next season. The Australian centre, Brendan O'Meara, who was a Northern Ford Premiership-winner with Dewsbury two years ago, has arrived from Rochdale Hornets, while Robin Jowett, who played for Featherstone last season, has rejected offers from other clubs to stay at Post Office Road.

The Rugby League has appointed its new marketing director. He is Chris Green, a Cambridge graduate who was previously director of player and retail services with Camelot, the operators of the National Lottery.