Former Leeds stand-off Graham Holroyd’s debut for Ireland has been put on hold for at least nine days due to injury.

Widnes Vikings have ruled out making an approach to Dwain Chambers, who will find out this week if he has a future in rugby league.

Dwain Chambers has a “good chance” of making his rugby league debut against St Helens on Sunday, according to Castleford coach Terry Matterson.

Scotland coach Steve McCormack has included six uncapped players in a provisional 26-man squad for their autumn internationals.

Ireland coach Andy Kelly has included six players from Widnes Vikings in his provisional 25-man squad for the World Cup qualifying matches against Russia and Lebanon.

IRELAND defensive coach Mike Ford is quitting the national side to join English club side Saracens.

England’s World Cup coaching team is set to be reunited for the Lions tour of New Zealand next summer.

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Paul Nicholls’s crack chaser Azertyuiop is likely to have a late start to the season and will reappear in the William Hill-sponsored Tingle Creek at Sandown in December.

Munster have enlisted Great Britain’s rugby league assistant coach, Graham Steadman, as their defensive coach.

When Mike Ford took on the role of defence guru with the Irish rugby union squad he freely admits it was with the intention of furthering his chances of getting a Super League coaching role. Now he is not sure if he would accept one even if it was offered.

Australia Test player Chris McKenna is set to play for Ireland in the European Nations Cup at the end of the season.

Castleford forward Michael Smith will end his frustration by finally making his New Zealand Test debut in the last match of their seven-week European tour against France in Perpignan tomorrow.

Yorkshire rivals Leeds and Castleford continued their contrasting build-up to the Challenge Cup semi-finals in a thoroughly entertaining Super League derby at the Jungle.

Darren Albert, Super League’s exciting capture from Australian champions Newcastle Knights, is bracing himself for his first St Helens-Wigan derby.

David Wallace has no qualms about evoking painful memories when he returns to Twickenham tomorrow.

Ireland captain Terry O’Connor is looking for his side to pick up from where they left off in the World Cup when they take on France in Albi later this month.