Great Britain forward Gareth Ellis tonight confirmed he is to leave Super League champions Leeds Rhinos at the end of the season to challenge himself in Australia’s National Rugby League.

RUGBY LEAGUE IRELAND (RLI) chiefs have welcomed news that the Leeds Rhinos are pushing Dublin as a venue for a potential Super League franchise.

Jason Robinson is ready to relaunch his glittering England career during this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship - but fellow World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio finds himself out in the cold.

THE Irish Wolfhounds, Ireland’s rugby league team, are playing Wales at home tomorrow at Lakelands in Terenure.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL spoke of the speculation over his future yesterday and, though he stressed his commitment to Leinster for the rest of the season, his words will have done little to soothe the fears of his paymasters.

Grand Final-winning rugby league coach Tony Smith has hailed Leeds Tykes’ surprise Powergen Cup final triumph over Bath as a “great day for the city”.

Jonny Wilkinson today insisted he will not be left with any mental scarring from the injury nightmare which has blighted his post-World Cup career.

Jason Robinson was tonight confirmed as England captain for the RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Wales in Cardiff on February 5.

England’s midfield injury jinx has struck again – with Wasps centre Stuart Abbott set to miss the entire RBS 6 Nations Championship.

England boss Andy Robinson today admitted Matt Dawson’s recent form had made it impossible to overlook the veteran Wasps scrum-half for the RBS 6 Nations.

Steve Hansen believes the stage is set for Iestyn Harris to cement his name as one of rugby’s biggest cross-code successes after he played a standout role in Wales’ opening World Cup victory over Canada.

IRELAND out-half Paul Burke (Harlequins) sustained a hamstring injury in training yesterday and has withdrawn from the 22-man Ireland squad for next Saturday’s permanent tsb international at Lansdowne Road against Wales.

Steve Hansen believes that Wales’ August schedule of warm-up Tests could make or break some players’ World Cup prospects.

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

New Wales coach Steve Hansen saw his reign begin with a defeat as Scotland snatched a late victory in a scrappy Six Nations finale at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff today.

Iestyn Harris is adamant that he will become a player fit to wear the coveted red number 10 shirt and follow in the rich tradition of Wales fly-halves.

Hull coach Shaun McRae is worried that tonight’s Super League clash with in-form Leeds Rhinos may have come a little too early in the season for his side.

Iestyn Harris has vowed to bounce back after being dropped by Wales for this weekend’s Lloyds TSB Six Nations clash with France.

Wales have dropped Iestyn Harris for Saturday’s Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship clash against France at the Millennium Stadium.

Iestyn Harris today moved closer to winning his first Wales rugby union cap when he was named in a 31-man squad for November Test matches against Argentina, Tonga and Australia.

Iestyn Harris will start his first game of rugby union when Cardiff tackle Glasgow in the Heineken Cup on Saturday.

Francis Cummins, who has already represented England and Great Britain, will tonight complete a remarkable hat-trick when he makes his debut for Ireland.

Steve O’Neill and Andy Kelly, who guided Ireland to the quarter-finals of last year’s World Cup, have been reappointed as joint-coaches for the international against France on June 26.