Sporting Digest: Rugby League

Australian Super League axed its Perth franchise yesterday and appeared to have the Hunter Mariners next in their sights in an apparent attempt to line up a united 20 team competition next season. The Mariners are in England for the weekend's World Club Challenge quarter-final against Wigan and sources say the players and staff will be told on return that the club will not exist next season.

Sir Rodney Walker was last night elected by an overwhelming majority as chairman of a reconstituted Rugby Football League board of directors at the game's annual meeting in Huddersfield.