Wakefield sign Bird

Wakefield have signed two players to help their efforts to avoid relegation, with Deon Bird going straight into their side for the crunch match against Salford on Sunday.

Bird has signed for the rest of the season after Hull decided to let him go. Bird joins his fourth Super League club, having played previously for Paris and Gateshead.

Wakefield have also recruited the French scrum-half, Julien Rinaldi, on trial from Villeneuve. He will train with his new team-mates for the first time today.

Jason Stevens, who was suspended for one Test during last autumn's Ashes series for stamping on Terry O'Connor, is in line to play in the one-off Test in Sydney next Friday, despite missing the State of Origin series through injury.

The St Helens coach, Ian Millward, is being linked to the vacant coaching job at Wests-Tigers next season.

Wigan and Bradford are to take part in the Middlesex Sevens on 17 August, the first time two rugby league teams have been invited to the event.