Widnes on target to attract Paul

Widnes are to press ahead with their bid for Henry Paul, despite qualms over the cost of bringing him back to rugby league. The club's board met last night to finalise an offer for the former Wigan, Bradford and New Zealand player, who switched codes to join Gloucester almost 18 months ago.

"Our coach, Neil Kelly, has met the board and they have agreed in principle to go ahead with negotiations," said Widnes' spokesman, Andrew Kirchin. "We hope it will be acceptable but it will have to fit in with our business plan."

Those negotiations, conducted through Paul's agent, David McKnight, consist of rerouting the money that would have been paid to three other players this year and topping it up with contributions from new sponsors. It is bad luck for other players that has produced the opportunity, with Craig Weston going back to Australia to tend his sick mother and Steve Carter and Andy Isherwood both suffering career-threatening injuries.

Some at Widnes believe bringing Paul on board would not only solve their stand-off problems but would also swell their crowds enough to defray the cost of signing him.

Although Paul was a member of the England Sevens squad who won the World Series event in Brisbane at the weekend, he has not made the impact he hoped for in the 15-a-side game and Widnes believe Gloucester would be prepared to let him go, especially at a time when they are struggling to bring their wage bill under control.

Rugby league's World Sevens, in which England finished as runners-up in Sydney at the weekend, will be an annual fixture, the Rugby League International Federation has decided after the success of this year's event.

The Federation is also working on dates for a tri-series, involving Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand, next year and has accepted Russia's application for full membership. Russia have been given the nod after performing impressively in the Sevens and could now play a home Test against Australia when they come to Europe this autumn.

"It's a possibility," said the RLIF chairman, Colin Love." "We were very impressed by the standard of play and what they have achieved, but it might be a little time away."

The United States were unsuccessful in their application for full membership.