Super League

With only one place left in the competition’s final, the Challenge Cup is set to be whittled down to two of the best clubs in world rugby league.

Star-studded Wigan Warriors have already booked their spot at Wembley Stadium but will welcome either Warrington Wolves or Hull FC as their opponents, with the former currently favourites to do so.

In terms of recent credentials, Warrington vs. Wigan would be the more glamorous matchup by all means. Although that’s not to say Hull FC haven’t got their gems as well, it doesn’t help the club that players such as Ben Crooks and Richard Horne are sidelined through injury.

As a result, it’s the superb talents of Warrington and Wigan who make up our shortlist of the biggest talents left in the tournament, all of whom are hoping not just for Challenge Cup glory, but a 2013 Super League title as well.

Richie Myler

The cog that makes things whir in the Warrington Wolves’ back line, things would have undoubtedly gone far less smoothly for Tony Smith’s side were it not for the indomitable presence of Richie Myler.

The 23-year-old scrum-half has exchanged passing duties with Stefan Ratchford for the majority of this campaign but has arguably done more with his time on the pitch, delivering fastball time and again.

As a result, the likes of Joel Monaghan, Lee Briers, Brett Hodgson and (injured) Ryan Atkins see as much of the ball as possible.

Without Myler, those names may not be lit up as often as they’ve proven to be in recent months.

Josh Charnley

Constantly toing and froing with teammate Sam Tomkins for top try scorer credentials this campaign, Josh Charnley is arguably the hardest talent to cage in rugby league right now.

An athlete in the truest sense of the term, the 22-year-old shows massive hunger for the game and has scored over 25 tries this season, regularly conjuring something out of what seems like thin air.

Equipped with not just a safe pair of hands but blistering pace and a wonderful step, if there’s space in front of Josh Charnley, he’s sure to exploit it.

Joel Monaghan

The Wire’s Mister Reliable at some crucial points this season, much of Warrington’s semi-final victory over Huddersfield was thanks to this Exile.

In two years of playing in England, Monaghan has accumulated a ratio of almost a try every game, something only a select few rugby league figures can boast of.

If Warrington are to have any hope of overcoming not just Hull FC, but also Wigan Warriors, Tony Smith will need to be able to count on his star back in all aspects of play.

Pat Richards

As his Wigan career winds down to its close, there’s nothing Pat Richards would like more to do than sign off his Warriors tenure with a Super League/Challenge Cup double.

Sportsbet took the courtesy of highlighting just how good the Southern Hemisphere player can be via Twitter:

The New Zealand native has agreed on a deal to play for Wests Tigers as of 2014, per BBC Sport, for family reasons.

However, as top overall points scorer in the 2013 Super League campaign, Richards holds the key to unlocking whatever defence it is that lies ahead of his current team when it goes to Wembley, whether it’s from his boots or hands.

So after 93 matches involving more than 100 community-level and professional standard clubs, there are two fixtures and three teams remaining in the Challenge Cup—Europe’s premier European rugby league tournament.

Following Wigan’s 70-0 trouncing of the London Broncos, it now lies with Warrington to stand up to the the pressure as reigning champions and leave their mark on the cup once more.

Ahead of the final two matches of the competition, read on for a breakdown of not just the last semi-final but a predicted finale too.

Who: Hull FC vs. Warrington Wolves

When: Sunday, July 28, 13:00 p.m. ET/18:00 p.m. BST

Where: John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield

As current titleholders, Warrington have a certain expectation to live up to on Sunday, especially given the way that they dealt with the current Super League leaders, Huddersfield Giants, at the quarter-final stage.

The Wire are well prepared for this weekend’s clash having won their last seven league fixtures on the trot, while Hull are in far different shape after losing their last five.

Of course, domestic form can only be taken into so much account, but that won’t stop the fact that the Wolves head into this semi as very heavy favourites.

For the hosts, one massive absence is Ben Crooks, the 20-year-old marvel who, as it was announced via the Hull Daily Mail Twitter account, will miss the remainder of the season through injury.

As such, Hull are far less prepared than their opponents in an attacking sense and will be expecting the likes of Joe Arundel and Tom Lineham to step up in his absence.

Key Player: Joel Monaghan

As he proved in the semi-final triumph over Huddersfield, Joel Monaghan is the man with the ability to set any Warrington match alight.

Whether playing off the wing or from a more central position, the Australian international has impressed greatly during his time in England and is currently one of the leading try scorers in the 2013 Super League campaign.

However, it’s not just in attack that Monaghan poses a great presence; he works hard to track back and set the platform for counter-attacks time and time again in defence, making him an all-round asset to have and a player capable of pushing Wolves into the final almost single-handedly.

Who: Wigan Warriors vs. TBC

When: Saturday, August 24, 10:00 a.m. ET/15:00 p.m. BST

Where: Wembley Stadium, London

While they may have lost top Super League ranking to Huddersfield, Wigan Warriors are looking good to bag silverware of another kind following their 70-0 win over London Broncos this weekend.

Led by the likes of Josh Charnley, Sam Tomkins, Pat Richards and a raft of other stars, Shaun Wane’s side glided into this season’s Challenge Cup final in style.

By all accounts, it’s likely to be Warrington that the Warriors face at Wembley in late August, and what an encounter it promises to be.

Sidled next to one another in the Super League standings, it’s only a few degrees that will separate the pair should they meet—that slightly missed tackle, an unintentional tap of the whitewash.

Given the Wolves’ victory over Huddersfield, there’s not a final meeting one could hope for more than Wigan versus Warrington, and it would be a shock to see Hull make it there instead.

Without doing injustice to the two sides, Friday’s meeting between the Sheffield Eagles and London Broncos was assuredly the least glamorous of our four Challenge Cup quarterfinal matches. 

With the Broncos having won that matchup with some assurance, that now leaves the classier outfits left in the running to come to the fore, all of whom are of the Super League ilk. It must be of some interest; after all, even David Cameron, the UK Prime Minister, is getting in on the action:

Catalan Dragons, Hull, Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield are all in action this weekend, while Wigan and Widnes are set to clash on Monday evening.

With all that top-flight pedigree in play, it’s safe to say there’s more than a few superstars of the rugby league world primed to dazzle.

Sam Tomkins

At this stage of the season, it’s incredibly valuable to have a player at one’s disposal with 20 tries or more to his name. Even better, Shaun Wane is lucky enough to have two at the DW Stadium, one of whom is Sam Tomkins.

The mercurial poster boy of Super League rugby at the moment, Wigan received a major squad boost ahead of next week’s quarterfinal when they announced via their official club website that Tomkins had recovered from injury.

The 24-year-old full-back has managed to bag 23 tries in just 18 appearances for the club this Super League season, leading the division in tries scored.

At the moment, it’s difficult to imagine a more sought-after full-back in all of rugby league, and Tomkins alone has the ability to rip Widnes Vikings to shreds. It just so happens he probably won’t need to.

Danny Brough

With 98 goals to his name in the 2013 Super League campaign, nobody has kicked more points than Huddersfield’s Danny Brough.

The Giants’ scrum-half is yet to fail in kicking at least one penalty or conversion in a match this Super League season and has looked just as impressive in Challenge Cup competition.

The 30-year-old will line up against Warrington Wolves in a clash between two sides positioned second and third in the division table.

As a result, what’s bound to be an incredibly tight encounter is more than likely to be determined by the finest of margins, of which the kicking game will play a major role.

Should Brough keep the cool head he has so far in 2013, the Claret and Gold have all the chances of emerging victorious. If he doesn’t turn up to the game, their chances are immediately damaged.

Joel Monaghan

Putting to bed the demons of what happened during the closing days of his career as a Raiders player, which shan’t be discussed here (although a quick search along with the terms “RSPCA” may turn up results), Joel Monaghan has become a thriving success in England.

Over the last two years, the outside-back has been an essential part of Warrington’s success in that period, whether it be from the wing, in the centre or at full-back.

Just as Danny Brough’s performance could mean the difference between winning and losing for the Giants, The Wire’s chances hinge on whether Monaghan’s line breaks can muster the points necessary for a spot in the Challenge Cup semifinals.

Defensively, Huddersfield are among the strongest sides in the Super League, meaning space will be hard to come by at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday, but the 31-year-old Monaghan has the potential to find any there is to be had.

Pat Richards

As part of his Wigan swansong, Pat Richards will have plenty of enthusiasm to give his club the success it arguably deserves this season before moving back to Australia in 2014.

The back currently stands as the highest points scorer in this season’s Super League, combining an awesome tally of kicks with a very impressive injection of tries to mount a sum of over 200 points.

The former Man of Steel award winner won’t face his toughest test in Widnes, but he's sure to come up with an easy-on-the-eye performance nonetheless.

The 2013 Challenge Cup is about to get interesting, with only eight teams remaining in the quest for the prestigious title. 

After five rounds of intense action between some of the best rugby clubs in the world, the matches that occur over the next four days will whittle the field down to the final four—an honor that should make any club consider the year a success. 

Advancing won't be easy though. Each of these teams have dominated on their way to this point of the tournament. 

Here's a look at all four matches, complete with all the details you need to know to catch the action. TV schedule provided by Challenge Cup website.

Sheffield Eagles vs. London Broncos

Kicking off the quarterfinals action will be a pair of English teams in Sheffield and London. Sheffield is seeking its first Challenge Cup since 1998 while London is hoping to capture its first in club history. 

When: Friday, July 12, at 8 p.m. BST (3 p.m. EDT)

Where: Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield, England

Watch: Sky Sports

The Eagles enter the tie as a slight underdog despite coming off of an impressive win over Halifax in the previous round. Full-back Quentin Laulu-Togagae led the way for the Eagles last time, scoring two tries. 

Yet as impressive as Laulu-Togagae has been, he'll have a difficult time outperforming Bulls star Michael Witt. The do-it-all 29-year-old scored a try and four goals in the team's fifth round 25-16 victory over the Bradford Bulls.

Catalans Dragons vs. Hull F.C.

Play picks up on Saturday with an intriguing matchup between French club Catalans, who will be looking to repeat their 2007 performance when they made the Challenge Cup final, and Hull. Hull will be looking to add a fourth Challenge Cup to their resume. 

When: Saturday, July 13, at 4 p.m. BST (11 a.m. EDT)

Where: Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan, France

Watch: BBC2

Catalans made quite an impression in the fifth round of the Cup—earning a 92-8 victory over York City that left you wondering how the Knights even advanced that far. Kevin Larroyer led the way with four tries. 

Hull will need a strong defensive effort to hold off the high-flying Dragons. Fortunately, their physical defense was on display in their fifth round match up, where they gave up just six points to the Wakefield Wildcats. 

Warrington Wolves vs. Huddersfield Giants

The Warrington Wolves should be in familiar territory here. They're now just two matches away from having the opportunity to defend their 2012 Challenge Cup title. Huddersfield shouldn't be intimidated though: With six Challenge Cups to its name, the Claret and Gold are capable of shining on the big stage. 

When: Sunday, July 14, at 4:15 p.m. BST (11:15 a.m. EDT)

Where: Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, England

Watch: BBC2

Warrington put on a scoring display that was only rivaled by Catalans' offensive explosion in the fifth round. They defeated the Salford City Reds 52-6 in a match that saw seven different Wolves score at least one try. 

Huddersfield, on the other hand, relied on a dominant defense to get the win and advance to this point. They defeated the Leeds Rhinos 24-8 with Leroy Cudjoe scoring two tries. 

Wigan Warriors vs. Widnes Vikings

With an incredible 18 Challenge Cups on their resume, Wigan is one of the most successful clubs in the sport and a constant threat in the tournament. Widnes has a prestigious career with the Cup itself. The Cheshire club has won seven Cups in club history and is currently on the rise as a contender again. 

When: Monday, July 15, at 8 p.m. BST (3 p.m. EDT)

Where: DW Stadium, Wigan, England

Watch: Sky Sports

Wigan are well on their way to another championship appearance after an excellent 46-14 win over Hull Kingston Rovers in the fifth round. Sam Tompkins will be the player to watch, as he scored four tries in the victory and will look to put his team on the board multiple times once again. 

Scoring regularly against Widnes will be a much more daunting task though. The Vikings registered the only shutout of Round 5. Dave Allen's two tries highlighted the 36-0 victory. 

Huddersfield vs Warrington

Saturday 29 August 2009,

Wembley Stadium

Kick-Off: 14:30

Huddersfield

Huddersfield Giants enter the final of the 2009 Carnegie Challenge Cup for the first time in four years after their 24-14 win over three-year reigning champions St Helens on August 9th.

Team captain and fullback Brett Hodgson has been in fine form for the tournament, contributing with two tries and eight goals for a total of 24 points.

Second row Danny Kirmond will miss the final against Warrington after being ruled out with a knee injury.

Warrington

Warrington Wolves reached the final for the first time since 1990 after a 39-26 win over Wigan in their semi-final encounter, which included three tries from Matt King.

Influential half-back Lee Briers has been cleared to play in the final after recovering from a facial injury sustained in the Super League. The 31-year-old is joint favourite with the bookies to take this year's Lance Todd Trophy for man of the match.

Prediction

Huddersfield beat Warrington 28-10 in their last meeting on the 19th July, but the Wolves were victorious 40-18 in the meeting before this, on the 26th April.

With both teams ready for the final, the match looks set to be a close encounter. Huddersfield would appear as the natural favourites, after eliminating defending champions St Helens in the semi-finals, as well as holding a superior position on the Super League table, but anything could happen in this Wembley final, and so we're in for an exciting showdown between these two sides on Saturday.

Read the complete Huddersfield vs Warrington Challenge Cup Final preview with the best odds for the match at Sports Betting Review now!

The top level of men's rugby competition in America, the USA Rugby Super League begins their playoffs this weekend after a hard fought regular season. Founded in 1997, the RSL is composed of the top sixteen teams in the USA divided into two Conferences, the Red and Blue.

This weekend the Top four teams, respectively, from the Red and Blue Conferences square off in the first round of the playoffs. The fruit of a very competitive season is now ready to bear.

To make matters even more exciting, there’s not a clear cut favorite in the entire bunch. San Francisco Golden Gate and the Life Running Eagles have shown brightest during the regular season, but it would be silly to overlook New York Athletic Club or Belmont Shore. One is the defending champ and the other has seen more RSL finals than any team in league history.

Life has gotten accolades for going undefeated, but the same can be said of Belmont Shore who have only a tie to blemish their record this season. The Chicago Lions, Denver Barbarians, Old Blue, and Dallas Harlequins are also battle tested and will be dangerous opponents.

The visiting teams will have their work cut out for them though. In the last six years, home teams have put together a 20-3 record in the first round of the playoffs.

Red #1 San Francisco Golden Gate vs. Blue #4 Dallas Harlequins

On paper, this should be a blowout. Dallas (4-3) snuck into the playoffs after a mediocre regular season where they struggled mightly on the road. Now, they travel to face the RSL’s most powerful team. With 317 points scored (45.2/game) and only 106 allowed (15.1/game), SFGG (6-1) has rolled through their opposition, especially down the stretch.

The team has firepower to spare as they boast RSL leading point scorer Volney Rouse and three players in the Top 10 on the RSL Try Scoring list. They can play defense too. Dallas will need to play the game tight and avoid getting into a scoring duel. They will need to rely on the boot of Vaughn Crowe to keep the points ticking on the scoreboard. If they have to chase the game forget about it, this one will turn ugly.

Rugby America Pick: San Francisco Golden Gate

Blue #1 Life Running Eagles vs. Red #4 Chicago Lions

This could be the best game on the playoff docket this weekend. This is a very tough draw for Life (7-0) and not your run of the mill #4 seed. The Chicago Lions (4-2-1) have plenty of playoff experience and have been to the semifinals each of the last four seasons. Life made a magnificent return to the RSL with a 7-0 regular season record.

With the No. 1 defense in the RSL (82 points allowed, 11.7/game), good centers, and a great kicking game with Nolte Coetzee, this team is built to win playoff type games. The Lion’s attack is led by prop Nate Ellis with 7 tries on the season, which highlights the workman like style of the team. Even though they are on the road to face Life, the Lions won’t back down. Expect this one to be a battle.

Rugby America Pick: Life Running Eagles

#2 Red Belmont Shore vs. #3 Blue Old Blue

A very intriguing first round matchup, Old Blue (4-3) needed a win in Week 8 to secure their playoff spot while Belmont Shore (6-0-1) was… well, Belmont Shore. Aside from some player eligibility drama that cost them a point in the standings they did just about everything right this season. Including handing San Francisco Golden Gate their only loss.

Belmont Shore has the third ranked offense in the RSL and 3rd ranked defense to go with it. They also have two of the RSL’s top try scorers in League Leader Peter Sio (eight tries) at outside center and wing Sinipati Uiagaleilei (7 tries).

Old Blue will counter with flyhalf Troy Hall who leads a balanced Old Blue attack.  This game could be very entertaining as both teams can put points on the scoreboard. Old Blue is going to need a big effort to knock off the home team.

Rugby America Pick: Belmont Shore

#2 Blue New York Athletic Club vs. #3 Red Denver Barbarians

The defending champs begin their title defense against the surging Denver Barbarians (4-3) in another great game. Both teams come into the game playing well and it should make for a tight matchup. NYAC (5-2) has finished really strong going 3-0 down the stretch and only surrendering 20 points in those three games. After starting the season by giving up points in droves, NYAC has buckled down and are ready for the playoffs.

The Barbarians come into the game on a similar roll as they recovered from a 1-2 start to make the playoffs. Their only loss down the stretch was a narrow one point defeat against Belmont Shore. Both teams are fully capable of scoring points. NYAC is led by fullback Dan Power (103 points) who was the runner up in the race for most points scored in the RSL this season.

NYAC is an experienced side with a handful of current and aspiring National Team players. Denver has a balance attack that saw 16 different players account for 32 total tries on the season. Flyhalf Maximo De Achaval leads the attack after coming back from injury and he’s played a big part in Denver’s surge.

Rugby America’s Pick: New York Athletic Club

This weekend is a step closer to the Super League finals on May 30th which will, once again, be aired on ESPN Classic. These four games should provide plenty of drama and action to satisfy any rugby fan.

Stay tuned as Rugby America will have coverage of the 2009 RSL Playoffs including roundups, stats, and scores.

In an unexpected move by the Rugby League Governing Body, the RFL, the new eight-team playoff format introduced for 2009 will see one team choose their opponent when they get into week three of the play-off's.

A press release was released by the RFL last night and was embargoed until 00.01 this morning, I managed to get my hands on this release and below is a snippet of this along with some quotes from RFL boss, Nigel Wood.

From the 2009 season onwards, the engage Super League Championship, now expanded from 12 teams to 14 franchised teams, will be decided by an exciting new playoff format involving the top eight teams in the competition. The format will also feature an innovative new element which sees one team given the opportunity to choose its next opponent.

The playoff stage of the competition will now be played over a four week period and will climax with the Grand Final at Old Trafford. The format is being introduced following consultation and discussion with the 14 member clubs in engage Super League and will bring tremendous added excitement and interest to both the regular season and the final decisive phase of the competition.

The engage Super League playoffs will see all eight teams involved in the four matches which take place in the opening week.  The League Leaders will face the fourth place team, second will play third, fifth will play eighth, and sixth will face seventh. The two matches involving the top four teams will be known as Qualifying Playoffs and the winners of these games will progress directly to the third week of the series.

The losers in these two games will have another chance in the second week when they face the winners of the week one Elimination Playoffs which involve the other four teams (the losers of these games will clearly take no further part). In week three, the winners of the two Qualifying Playoffs will play the winners from week two.

Significantly, the winning team from week one with the highest League placing will be allowed to select their opponents at this stage, thus adding a further element to this phase of the competition.

All the games in week three will be sudden death semi-finals with both winners progressing to the Grand Final at Old Trafford and both losers eliminated.

Commenting on the new format, the RFLs Chief Executive Nigel Wood said, "This new eight team engage Super League playoff series is a tremendous development for the sport and the competition. It will create great drama and bring an added dimension to what is already the most exciting period in the season.

"The increase in playoff places will also add more interest to the regular season by giving more matches added significance as clubs battle through the weekly rounds to give themselves a shot at the title."

My question to Mr. Wood would have to be: "Why are you allowing a team to choose their opponents?"  Surely this creates an unfair bias to the competition?

There has been mixed reaction to the news with many rugby fans left wondering "why?"

Further developments on this topic are set to be released over the next month, and we will bring them too you as and when they are released.

Ex-Castleford Hooker, Andrew Henderson, who has recently signed for Dave Wood's Gateshead Thunder side, says he will be looking at his father for inspiration in the up and coming Rugby World Cup.

The Scottish International will side up with his two brothers to make a "Henderson Hat-Trick."  It is the first time the trio, born in Torquay and raised on Australia's South Wales Coast, have played in the same side.

With 55 games under his belt for Super League club, Castleford Tigers, Henderson believe's him and his siblings have plenty to offer at World Cup status.

"My brothers and I have got something to offer the Scottish side," said Andrew.

"It is a fantastic achievement for us to not only play the game professionally but to come to the World Cup and represent our adopted country.

"We are very excited to be a part of this campaign. My father is battling leukaemia but is on the road to recovery. It is a real slow process but it is quite emotional for him."

Henderson has told many media sites that his father has already bought thirty-five tickets for the Henderson family to go and see the boys in action against Fuji on 5th November.

"He is a very passionate Scotsman and to have the opportunity to see the team play and his three sons in the jersey is fantastic for him," he said.

"If the people on the Central Coast don't hurry and buy the tickets, I'm sure he will.

"If Dad had the energy, I'm sure he would be playing the bagpipes. I know he is going to put on a kilt for my wedding. He may wear a kilt at the Fiji game, if not then certainly a Scottish jersey."

Andrew is looking forward to the World Cup and I wish him all the best, as a Castleford fan, I was gutted when they announced he was leaving. 

However, Dave Woods, Gatehead's coach is a former Tigers coach and good friends with Henderson, so I believe we will be hearing a lot of Thunder throughout the coming seasons.

It has been reported in the Rugby League press this week that National League Two side Gateshead Thunder are considering a move to Newcastle, and even a possible name change. 

Thunder, who are set for promotion to National League One next season, are seeking to switch their home games from the Gateshead International Stadium to Kingston Park, home of Union side Newcastle Falcons.

The move is justified on the grounds of the potential extra revenue generated by the corporate facilities at Kingston Park, key to the club's ambitious expansion plans.

The potential name change, while genuinely mooted, has been less discussed. However, there are numerous reasons why Gateshead Thunder should remain Gateshead Thunder, and stay put on the South Bank of the Tyne.

Firstly, Thunder have undergone three re-inventions since their "merger" with Hull in 1999, after just one year as a Super League franchise. Fans have been central in each of these efforts, and there would be no Thunder today were it not for a hardcore of dedicated devotees.

With the future seemingly more secure, it would be a huge slap in the face to these fans (mainly Gateshead residents) to strip the club of its name and ship it to a neighbouring city already saturated with sporting delights.

Secondly, Thunder are noted for their community involvement in Gateshead, and have built a genuine enthusiasm for Rubgy League in a non-heartland area amongst local schoolchildren. This would be severly undermined with a move to Newcastle.

Whilst the board would argued that the community and schools work would continue in Gateshead, something has been lost if a local kid impacted by this work has to spend an hour and £3 making a round trip to Kingston Park to see their team.

In what is a poor community, this will simply not be an option for many such kids, and potentially for some older followers also.

Thirdly, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with Thunder's current home, the Gateshead International Stadium (or "The Thunderdome"). It has acres of capacity, facilities befitting an international athletics arena, and is fairly centrally located on Tyne and Wear's metro system.

It is true that the potentially lucrative corporate provision is non-existent, but that is surely something that could be put right with stadium owners Gateshead Council should it be shown to be economically viable.

Kingston Park does have the advantage of being purpose-built for rugby, but its essentially out-of-town location would result in a much increased net travel for most fans, including those from certain areas of Newcastle.

The chairman, Steve Garside, has done a remarkable job in turning around the fortunes of Thunder, who had a dismal 2007 campaign, and fans are encouraged by this year's success and the ambitious plans for the future.

But bearing in mind these negative impacts of a potential move, the key question that Garside and the board has to answer is this: Who are Thunder for, if not primarily the people of Gateshead?

Maybe they would admit that, "for the sake of the future", they want a new fan base and to make the club Newcastle-centric. If so, I think they will fail.

The largely wealthy residents of North Newcastle already have the Falcons, the Magpies, and Gosforth Race Park to spend their limited time and disposable income on—will they really dig deeper to support another outfit? Do they want a Rugby League team? I fear not.

However, I think it much more likely that Garside would reject ("categorically; "fervently") the suggestion that Thunder are seeking to abandon their Gateshead roots, and argue that the move is vital for the future success of the club that will ultimately bring happiness to the Gatehead-based fans. 

But this very same success could occur without uprooting the club, and indeed the unlikelihood of a greatly increased support base at Kingston Park may mean that a move would actually harm the future of Thunder.

Currently, Gateshead Thunder are enjoying great success on the field, growing attendances, and a strong relationship between fans and board. Chairman Steve Garside needs to pursue Thunder's bright future by keeping things this way, a task he will be greatly assisted in by repenting of these ill thought out plans to shift the side to Newcastle.

Sam Langley

Is there a possibility of having the same athlete competing in numerous Olympics, playing in the Super League for a club in turmoil and also having time to head over the pond to America for a little hand in American Football? Surely not...

Well this is the case for mixed fortunes star Dwain Chambers.

In 2008, the British sprinter decided to take on a completely different role and take trials at Rugby League outfit Castleford tigers. The reaction: Not one to be reckoned with.

Everyone thought this was a "step too far", an impossible dream that would soon come crashing to the ground. However, the sprinter and former American football player has begun to make the dream more of a reality, after having reviews which were very encouraging towards his progress.

Dwain began his career as a 100-meter sprinter. Following a really promising childhood, Dwain started to move up the athletic ladder, and after accolades in the 2002 European Championships and helping guide the Great Britain team to the 4x100m relay gold, Chambers looked a potential superstar.

When the awards are rolling in, and the press are knocking at your door every second, the thing to do is remain doing your best, and not take anabolic steroids.

If only Dwain had listened to this. He took the drugs and paid the penalty for it, being stripped of money, medals and most of all, his dignity. Yet he wasn't embarrassed by the fact after admitting "Science will always be ahead of the testers. I took the chance, and was under the assumption that I wouldn't get caught.”

He most certainly did.

During his ban, he decided to take a trip across the pond and have a shout at American football. Dwain had reports saying he was fast, strong and had good hands. Was there a possibility?

The NFL Europa franchise collapsed, so Dwain's American football career came to a halt. He returned to sprinting, and after easing through a 60-meter sprint event in Birmingham, Dwain looked like his sprinting career was back on track. But after continued appeals against his ban from the Olympics, Dwain looked in yet another direction.

Rugby League, are you joking?

The criticism he received from everyone to do with the sporting world suggested that this was a step too far. That he would never be able to support the physical demands of a rugby player. At the end of the day, he is a sprinter.

Aside from the criticism, Dwain took to trials at Castleford and after a month’s trial, he was registered as a rugby league player. He will make his rugby-league debut against York City Knights in a reserve game today, his chance to finally silence the critics.

Who said sprinters can’t play in contact sports?