Super League clubs join ARL

Rugby League

DAVE HADFIELD

Super League clubs have agreed to obey a court ruling by rejoining the Australian for its delayed kick-off next weekend.

Teams like Brisbane and Canberra, which tried to break away from the ARL, say that they will immediately switch to Super League if it wins the right to go ahead at its appeal in May.

What is not certain is whether all the leading players signed to News Corporation's Super League will play in the ARL's Optus Cup. Many of the biggest names involved have insisted that they will not do so.

The players are meeting on Monday to decide on their next move and it is also rumoured in Australia that the European Super League's chief executive, Maurice Lindsay, is about to propose a way out of the impasse that would involve a separate competition, not run by News Corporation.

The here is resisting calls from the former Minister for Sport, Lord Howell, that the Challenge Cup final should be added to the list of events reserved for terrestrial television.

"The RFL believes that any extension of the listed events would restrict the market that exists for the sale of television rights and drive prices down," Dave Callaghan, the League's broadcasting manager, said .

Leeds' prop, Harvey Howard, says that he will be fit to play in the Cup semi-final against Bradford next Saturday. Howard has recovered from a rib injury, but their stand-off, Tony Kemp, will miss the semi-final, as well as the first month of Super League with a broken arm.

The Halifax hooker, Paul Rowley, has settled his differences with the club and come off the transfer list.

Swinton have signed the Featherstone prop forward, Leo Casey. Along with their other new signings, Mark Riley and Tony Morrison, he makes his debut in tomorrow's pre-season friendly against London Broncos.