Tuesday, October 7

3.28pm - Bramley Buffaloes' Co-op Conference National player of the year John Richardson has signed for Hunslet Hawks on a two-year deal.

7.12am - Castleford Tigers have appointed Steve Gill to a new role as head of youth development.

Gill, a former member of the club's coaching staff, will be in charge of overseeing the recruitment and development of players at all levels below the first team.

Monday, October 6

10.17am - Wakefield Trinity Wildcats have re-signed forward Steve Snitch from Huddersfield Giants.

Snitch, 24, began his professional career at Wakefield in 2002 before making the move to Huddersfield two years ago.

Wildcats boss John Kear said: "Steve is another great addition to our squad and will add strength in depth. He has got plenty of experience playing Super League and we're looking forward to having him at the club."


Friday, October 3

2.42pm - Bradford Bulls have announced a group operating profit up by 363 per cent at £258,594 in the year ended December 31, 2007. Profit before tax was 16 per cent up at £257,605 on turnover slightly down at just over £5.1 million.

Bulls chairman Peter Hood said: "These results reflect a solid performance and are a credit to our excellent management and staff.

"With no wealthy owner to cover any shortfall, generating profits is essential to ensure that head coach Steve McNamara has the full finite value of the salary cap at his disposal."

12.27pm - The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Frank Robinson, has issued a good luck message to the Rhinos ahead of tomorrow's Super League Grand Final.

He said: "Very best of luck to Leeds Rhinos for the Grand Final on Saturday night. It would be a magnificent achievement to successfully retain the title, so on behalf of the city we offer everyone at the club our best wishes and support.

"The whole city will be behind them and hoping they can bring home the trophy once again, so we look forward to an exciting game and hopefully a great victory for the Rhinos."


12.04pm - Former Widnes and Salford full-back Gary Broadbent has ended a five-year stint at Whitehaven by signing for his home-town club Barrow.

Barrow, newly promoted from National League Two, have also signed Warrington second rower Andy Bracek and Workington scrum-half Liam Campbell, who is a product of Wakefield's academy.

10.40am - Huddersfield Giants have signed 21-year-old Workington Town star Shaun Lunt on a three-year full time contract.

The hooker/half back - who is a former Castleford Tigers player - was the National league young player of the year in 2006 and 2007 and has joined for an undisclosed fee.

Thursday, October 2

2.12pm Prop Jason Cayless and half-back Kyle Eastmond have been named in St Helens' initial 19-man squad for Saturday's engage Super League Grand Final, against Leeds Rhinos - along with the 17 players on duty in the qualifying semi-final 13 days ago.

Saints' squad is: Paul Wellens, Ade Gardner, Matt Gidley, Willie Talau, Francis Meli, Leon Pryce, Sean Long, Nick Fozzard, Keiron Cunningham, Jason Cayless, Lee Gilmour, Jon Wilkin, James Roby, Chris Flannery, James Graham, Bryn Hargreaves, Paul Clough, Maurie Fa'asavalu, Kyle Eastmond.

2.03pm: Leeds Rhinos coach Brian McClennan has named an unchanged 19-man squad for Saturday's engage Super League Grand Final against St Helens at Old Trafford.

Luke Burgess and Ryan Hall are added to the 17 players who defeated Wigan in the final eliminator six days ago.

Rhinos' 19, in squad number order, is: Brent Webb, Scott Donald, Keith Senior, Lee Smith, Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow, Kylie Leuluai, Matt Diskin, Jamie Peacock, Jamie Jones Buchanan, Gareth Ellis, Kevin Sinfield, Ali Lauitiiti, Ryan Bailey, Nick Scruton, Ian Kirke, Carl Ablett, Ryan Hall, Luke Burgess.

1.22pm - Bradford Bulls' teenage prop-forward Steve Crossley has agreed a new two year full-time contract.

Crossley, 18, was player of the tour for England Academy in ZAustralia earlier this year.

10.04am - St Helens captain Keiron Cunningham has signed a new contract with his home town club, two days before their engage Super League Grand Final showdown with Leeds Rhinos.

Cunningham, who turns 32 later this month, had been considering retirement, but today gave his commitment to play one more season by signing a 12-month deal.

Tuesday, September 30

10.41am - Castleford Tigers have released prop-forward Michael Korkidas from the second year of his contract, clearing the way for him to join Super League rivals Huddersfield Giants.

The former Wakefield and Salford player joined the Tigers in pre-season and played in 22 matches this year.

7.27am - Former Wakefield Trinity Wildcats winger Semi Tadulala has signed a new one-year contract which will keep him at Bradford Bulls for the 2009 season.

Tadulala has scored 23 tries in 26 appearances since joining the club from Wakefield Wildcats at the start of this season.

Monday, September 29

11.23am - Leeds Rhinos winger Lee Smith is facing an anxious wait after being ordered to appear before the RFL disciplinary committee tomorrow.

Smith has been charged with "alleged kicking out" in last Friday's final eliminator win over Wigan Warriors.

The Grade C offence carries a maximum ban of up to four matches and a suspension would rule Smith out of Saturday's Grand Final showdown with St Helens.

10.34am - Castleford Tigers have promoted Junior Academy players Jonathan Walker and Jamie Cording into their full-time squad.

Walker, a prop, has signed a two-year deal, while three-quarter Cording has committed for one season.

Thursday, September 25

12.41pm - Castleford Tigers today confirmed that hooker Andy Henderson has left the club.

Henderson spent four years with Tigers, making 115 appearances and captaining the 2005 and 2007 National One Granbd Final-winning teams.

12.32pm - Warrington Wolves have released Rob Parker and Andy Bracek by mutual agreement.

Parker joined Wolves in 2005 from Bradford Bulls, while Bracek signed from St Helens in 2004.

11.06am - Huddersfield Giants have completed the signing of back-row forward Simon Finnigan from Bradford Bulls on a three year deal.

Finnigan said: "I was close to coming here in the past and I'm delighted to be signing now.

"It is a club on the up and it's an exciting time to join. We have a new very enthusiastic head coach starting soon, the squad looks really good and competition for places is healthy."

9.34am - Former Wakefield Trinity Wildcats player and reserve team boss Nigel Wright has joined Warrington Wolves, as assistant-coach.

Wright said: "After 12 months at Wakefield, I decided to move on to further my own career. I'm delighted James Lowes has decided to offer me the job as his number two.

"Warrington is a big club and it's the kind of challenge I need, it's a great setup with great players."

7.29am - Bradford Bulls have today completed the signing of Harlequins' Leeds-born forward Michael Worrincy on a two year contract.

Worrincy spent the 2005 season on loan at Hull before making his Quins debut, against Bradford, in 2006. He scored eight tries in 16 games this year..

He said: "Bradford's a great club and environment for me to develop and I'm really looking forward to getting up there and making a mark. There's an opportunity there to win silverware with the Bulls and I can't wait to return north."

Tuesday, September 23

7.08am - Castleford Tigers have completed the signing of former Leeds and Wakefield prop Chris Feather from Bradford Bulls, on a one-year deal.

Monday, September 22

2.58pm - Former Leeds prop Jamie Thackray has agreed a new year contract with Hull.

Thackray, who re-joined Hull from Rhinos last spring, said: "I have loved being back at Hull.

"It is a fantastic club. I am determined to have a big off season to put myself in the best physical shape for 2009, so that I can play my part in Hull FC's challenge for honours."

2.44pm - Hull's former Leeds winger Gareth Raynor has been forced to withdraw from the England train-on squad.

Raynor has been suffering from a toe injury and was recently given an injection in a joint in order to try to improve the problem.

But the injury has not responded and the player must now undergo a minor operation which will prevent him taking part in training.

1.45pm - Leeds Rhinos will play Les Catalans Dragons during next year's Super League Magic Weekend, with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats facing Bradford Bulls and Castleford Tigers taking on Hull.

Today's seeded draw also paired St Helens with Wigan Warriors, Hull KR with Warrington Wolves, Salford against Harlequins and Huddersfield Giants with Celtic Crusaders.

10.52am - Former Leeds forward Bill Hopper - who played in the 1957 Challenge Cup final win over Barrow at Wembley - has died, aged 86.

Hopper, known as Ernie, made 227 appearances for Leeds in a nine-season career, scoring 15 tries and one goal.

Friday, September 19

10.11am - London-based band Scouting for Girls will head the pre-match entertainment at the engage Super League Grand Final on Saturday, October 4.

The band will perform a four song set on the Old Trafford pitch in the build up to the biggest match of the engage Super League season.

Thursday, September 18

3.04pm - Warrington coach James Lowes has stepped down as England trainer ahead of the World Cup in order to concentrate on his club commitments.

The former Leeds, Bradford and Great Britain hooker joined the national set-up a year ago when he was assistant coach to Paul Cullen at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

1.39pm - Former Leeds Rhinos assistant-coach Damian McGrath has joined Huddersfield Giants as head of youth performance.

10.40am - Leeds Rhinos' England skipper Jamie Peacock is in line to be named Man of Steel for the second time.

Peacock, winner is 2003, is on a shortlist of three for this year's award, along with St Helens' Leon Pryce and James Graham.

10.22am - Co-op National One side Featherstone Rovers have confirmed the signing of dual-code international Iestyn Harris, from Bradford Bulls.

Harris has joined Rovers as player/assistant-coach. Rovers have also signed forward Tim Spears, from Batley Bulldogs.

8.46am - Liam Colbon is to become the second winger to leave Wigan for east Yorkshire after signing a two-year contract with Hull KR.

The 24-year-old former Orrell St James and Hindley ARLFC player was an ever-present this season before missing Wigan's Super League play-off win over Bradford last Friday through illness and is back in the squad for Saturday's semi-final against Catalans Dragons.

His departure from the JJB Stadium comes just a week after Mark Calderwood agreed to join Hull on a two-year deal.

7.30am - Bradford Bulls have signed winger Rikki Sheriffe from Harlequins on a two year contract.

Sheriffe, who had a spell with Halifax, said: "I'm born and bred Bradford and as a kid I always wanted to go on and play for the Bulls.

"It's a brilliant chance for me and now I just can't wait for it all to start. It's a great time for me and my family".

Tuesday, September 16

2.35pm - England coach Tony Smith has added Bradford Bulls' Paul Deacon, Jamie Langley and Paul Sykes to his World Cup train-on squad, along with Warrington Wolves trio Martin Gleeson, Adrian Morley and Ben Westwood.

Bulls' Andy Lynch and Terry Newton have both withdrawn due to shoulder injuries and Wolves' Jon Clarke would have been selected but for a broken arm suffered last weekend.

12.34pm - Ashley Klein has been named as referee for Friday's engage Super League qualifying semi-final between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos at Knowsley Road.

7.02am - Dual-code international Iestyn Harris is set to complete a shock move to Co-op National One side Featherstone Rovers.

Rovers have announced a press conference for Thursday, when they say a "significant and exciting, high-profile" signing will be unveiled.

Friday, September 12

2.33pm - Former Castleford Tigers forward Tom Haberecht has signed a new one year contract with York City Knights.

The Aussie second-rower joined the club in July after his release by Tigers.

Knights player/coach Paul March said: "He has got better in every game this season and will certainly be a big player for us in 2009."

11.15am - Wakefield Panthers' Sue Cochrane has been named as England Women's tour captain for the World Cup in Australia, while club team-mate Gemma Walsh has been named as team captain for the tournament.

Thursday, September 11

11.24am - Hull KR have signed their former junior Ryan Esders on a one-year deal from National League Two club York City Knights.

The 21-year-old centre or second-rower has been an ever-present for the Knights since joining them from Rovers in 2006 and was the club's young player of the year for 2007.

10.44am - Controversial New Zealand Test player Sione Faumuina's move to Castleford may be put on hold after he was arrested in Brisbane.

The 27-year-old North Queensland Cowboy, who has signed a 12-month contract with the Tigers for 2009, was charged by police with wilful damage and disorderly conduct on licensed premises following his arrest at a nightclub.

10.35am - Hull have signed former Leeds winger Mark Calderwood on a two-year contract from Wigan.

The 26-year-old England international, who has scored 135 tries in 212 games for his two previous Super League clubs, is a direct replacement for retiring Australian Test winger Matt Sing.

9.12am - Hunslet Hawks assistant-coach Matt Bramald has left the club.

Hawks general manager Alan Stephenson said: "We wish Matt the best in his future career and thank him for his contribution to the club."

Monday, September 8

3pm - Castleford Tigers duo centre Michael Shenton and loose-forward Joe Westerman and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats centre Ryan Atkins have been named in England's train-on squad ahead of next month's World Cup.

The squad also includes Huddersfield Giants' Martin Aspinwall, Darrell Griffin and David Hodgson, Hull KR's Peter Fox and Shaun Briscoe, Hull's Garreth Carvell and Gareth Raynor and Harlequins' Tony Clubb,
Rob Purdham and Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook.

Other players will be added when their teams are knocked out of the play-offs. The final 24-man squad will be confirmed on October 7.

1.30pm - Bradford Bulls have today announced that James Evans will leave the club at the end of the season.

Evans, who joined the club from Huddersfield Giants at the end of 2006, has made 52 appearances for the club, scoring 22 tries

Bulls coach Steve McNamara said: "James has been fantastic for us over the past two years, both on and off the field and I'd like to thank him for his outstanding contribution to the club.

"Unfortunately Salary Cap and the new Non Federation Trained Rules have meant we have not been able to keep him at the Grattan Stadium but it goes without saying that everyone at the Bulls wishes him every success for the future. "

12.05pm - National One side Featherstone Rovers have confirmed Daryl Powell will be their new coach.

The former Great Britain and Leeds stand-off had a spell coaching the Rhinos before switching codes to join sister club Leeds Carnegie from where he moves to Post Office Road.

9.13am - England coach and RFL technical director Tony Smith has become a British citizen after completing a citizenship ceremony.

Smith said: "I am both proud and honoured to become a British citizen and I am delighted to show a strong and clear commitment to this country which I have developed during my career in rugby league here.

8.54am - RFL chief executive Nigel Wood reckons engage Super League is setting new standards on and off the field.

Super League XIII was the best supported season yet, attracting a new record average weekly attendance of 10,338.

Wood said: "We have enjoyed a tremendously successful season on and off the field and the fact that engage Super League continues to grow year on year demonstrates that the competition has now reached a new elevated level of profile and prestige."

7.06am - Wigan are looking for alternative venues for Friday's engage Super League elimination play-off against Bradford after informing the Rugby Football League the JJB Stadium is unavailable, due to football commitments the following day.

The Warriors have been given the opportunity to source an alternative venue and are in talks over hosting the game at Stobart Stadium in Widnes or Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium.

"Given the fixture cannot be staged at the JJB Stadium on the due date, these venues are being pursued in order to minimise disruption to supporters and to ensure that the play-off takes place in a suitable alternative stadium," said an RFL spokesman.

Friday, September 5

10.35am - Harlequins have confirmed the signing of 19-year-old Leeds Rhinos hooker Ben Kaye and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats' former Leeds Academy back-rower Jason Golden, 22.

Thursday, September 4

1.47pm - Castleford Tigers full-back/stand-off Luke Dorn will return to former club Harlequins next season on a two-year contract.

Dorn joined Salford from the then-London Broncos in 2006 and moved to Castleford last winter.

Quins coach Brian McDermott said: "I think every one recognises him as being one of the most potent attacking players in Super League. The squad will benefit from his style of play and he is also looking forward to playing with us."

2.20pm - Controversial half-back Todd Carney today completed his move to England when he signed a three-year deal with Huddersfield.

Giants are thought to have beaten off competition from a host of other Super League clubs, including Wigan, to land the 22-year-old, who was sacked by Canberra Raiders following the latest in a series of alcohol-fuelled incidents.

Carney, who will join the Yorkshire club in December, said: "I see this move as a fresh start for me away from the issues in the NRL and I can't wait to get cracking."

10.16am - Nick Scruton has admitted his decision to join Leeds Rhinos' local rivals Bradford Buls was the hardest of his life.

Scruton said: "I have been having sleepless nights trying to come up with the right decision.

"It is something I have thought long and hard about and spoke to my family about. We were talking with Leeds for a long time to try and come up with a deal but at the end of the day I have to sign the right deal for me."

8.42am - Super League wooden spoonists Castleford have signed Huddersfield back-row forward Stuart Jones for 2009.

The 26-year-old former Wigan and St Helens player was out of contract at the Galpharm Stadium at the end of the season and has agreed a one-year deal with the Tigers.

7.27am - Bradford Bulls today confirmed they have signed Leeds Rhinos prop Nick Scruton, on a three-year contract beginning next season.

Tuesday, September 2

1.45pm - Prop-forward Scott Wheeldon today became the latest player to cross the great divide by switching from Hull FC to neighbours Hull KR.

The 22-year-old former Rovers Academy player, who missed out on a place in Hull's Challenge Cup final team, will return to Craven Park next season after signing a two-year deal.

12.38pm - National League One club Widnes Vikings have completed the signing of Castleford Tigers half-back Anthony Thackeray, who ended the season on loan at Featherstone Rovers.

Thackeray, 22, said: "Things weren't working out at Castleford but when I came over to Widnes I couldn't believe the set-up, it was so professional."

7.02am - Australian scrum-half James Webster has been given the go-ahead to make his debut for Challenge Cup runners-up Hull, against his former team-mates from Hull KR in Sunday's derby at Craven Park.

The 29-year-old was prevented from making his bow for the Black and Whites in the derby in July because of red tape, but he has now received his British citizenship and will play in the final game of the regular engage Super League season.

Monday, September 1

12.39pm - Toulouse Olympique have accepted an invitation to play in the Co-operative National League from next season.

The French club were offered a place in National League One for the next three years after failing in their bid for a Super League licence.

The RFL are to offer financial assistance to both Olympique and the other National League clubs to help offset the additional travel costs.

10.51am - Former Leeds Rhinos three-quarter Mat Gardner is among six players being released by Salford City Reds ahead of their return to engage Super League. The others are Paul Highton Andrew Brocklehurst, Andy Ballard, Chris Borgese and Daley Williams.

10.31am - Australian back-row forward Luke Williamson has signed for Harlequins on a two-year deal.

The 30-year-old, who has played more than 215 NRL games, has been released by Manly Sea Eagles and will join Quins next year.