Rugby League: Hallas to return as an amateur

GRAHAM HALLAS, the Hull Kingston Rovers back transfer-listed at pounds 180,000, is planning a comeback this weekend in the second team of his old amateur club.

The British Amateur Rugby League Association has granted Hallas, a Lions tourist this summer, a permit to play for Dudley Hill Eagles in the second division of the Pennine League.

The Hull KR chairman, Phil Lowe, described himself as 'gutted' by hearing of Hallas's plans. 'The Rugby Football League is going to have to sort something out to prevent situations like this,' he said. 'I think Graham is being very foolish. It looks to a lot of people as if he is being used as a pawn in the row between BARLA and the RFL.'

The ruling bodies of the amateur and professional games in Britain are at war over the control of youth rugby, and the decision of a high- profile professional to return to his amateur roots will be seen by some as a propaganda coup for BARLA.

But the association's chief executive, Maurice Oldroyd, said: 'If Graham wants to play a few social games to keep himself fit, then we are doing the RFL a favour by allowing him to do so.'

Hallas has also been the subject of a rejected bid from Hull, who failed this week in their attempts to sign Deryck Fox.

Garry Schofield, Leeds's Great Britain captain, is to go on loan to the Sydney club, Manly-Warringah, at the end of the season.

Bobby Goulding has been suspended for two matches after a 'trial by video' for an attempted head butt on Castleford's Mike Ford in only his second game for Widnes. Goulding was also fined pounds 40, severely reprimanded and cautioned as to his future conduct.