Rugby League

DAVE HADFIELD

Ellery Hanley, the former Great Britain captain and coach, is to play for the Sydney Tigers in the 1996 season. That will mark a return to a club with whom he played in the Grand Final of the Winfield Cup in 1988.

"It's great to be back," said the ex-Wigan and Leeds loose forward. "I have fond memories of my time with the club and I'm looking forward to helping them become a top Premiership side."

The Tigers, previously known as Balmain, have been in steep decline in recent years, finishing 15th out of 20 sides last season.

The acquisition of Hanley, who will also be involved in junior coaching and marketing, is a major publicity coup for them, even if, with his 35th birthday looming, his playing days are numbered.

For the Australian , who paid him pounds 200,000 to join them in their struggle against Super League, it also solves the embarrassing problem of what to do with such an expensive investment. Hanley had been linked with the Gold Coast and St George, but neither of those clubs wanted him.

Hanley was roundly criticised last weekend when, after being named as player-coach of an ARL-affiliated Great Britain side in the World Sevens in Sydney, he declined to take the field.

A team including some players virtually unknown in Britain, let alone Australia, lost all its group matches and was eliminated in the first round, leaving the organisers fuming at Hanley's attitude.

A leading Tigers player, Derek McVey, is travelling in the opposite direction to join St Helens, who have agreed terms and applied for a work permit.

Meanwhile, Huddersfield's Australian coach, Darryl Van de Velde, is interested in signing fellow countryman, Phil Veivers, from Saints.

Craig Innes, who is due to join the ARL club Manly, is to be allowed to stay with Leeds until their Silk Cut Challenge Cup run ends.