Richie Mathers, who is leaving Warrington Wolves at the end of the season after the club’s signing of Brett Hodgson, the Huddersfield Giants full back and reigning Man of Steel, is understood to have rejected a cross-code move to Leeds Carnegie.
Mathers met the Guinness Premiership club about a return to Headingley, where he spent six seasons with Leeds Rhinos and won the 2004 Engage Super League Grand Final under Tony Smith. Rather than a move to rugby union, Mathers is looking for another league club and Castleford Tigers have emerged as a possible destination for the 26-year-old full back, who had an injury-plagued season in the NRL with Gold Coast Titans in 2007.
Mark Gasnier, the former Australia centre, completed his comeback from union after two years at Stade Français by re-signing with St George-Illawarra Dragons yesterday until 2014. “I returned because league gives me a lot of enjoyment,” he said.
Matt Orford, the Bradford Bulls scrum half, has returned to Australia for shoulder surgery amid renewed reports that the 32-year-old former Manly Sea Eagles player will sign for a club Down Under. Bradford are insistent that he is staying at Odsal, but George Mimis, Orford’s manager, declined to say what the player’s future may hold, despite there being two years still on his Bulls contract.
Hull and Warrington are awaiting confirmation that Sean Long, who dislocated an elbow in the defeat of Catalans Dragons, and Chris Bridge, the England centre, who suffered a serious shoulder injury during the Wolves’ loss to Leeds Rhinos on Sunday, will miss the remainder of the season.
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Frédéric Vaccari, the Catalans wing, has been cautioned by the RFL for using his forearm on Long’s face last Friday. Ryan McGoldrick, the Castleford full back, was also warned for dangerous play by use of the knees in the win against Bradford on Sunday.
Harlequins have agreed a new four-year deal with Tony Clubb, their 23-year-old England back, a product of the club’s academy system.