Introducing the Rugby League of the Extraordinary

Several England stars feature in a brilliant new promotional video for the Super League play-offs.

Ben Westwood (Warrington Wolves), Tom Briscoe (Hull FC), Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos), Eorl Crabtree (Huddersfield Giants), Sam Tomkins (Wigan Warriors) and James Roby (St Helens) are depicted as Super Heroes as Rugby League-meets-Mad Max ‘Beyond the Thunderdome’. 

It’s part of a pioneering RFL campaign, ‘The Rugby League of the Extraordinary’, which celebrates the amazing feats and human endeavours in the sport and aims to attract new audiences. 

The video is accompanied by an outdoor advertising campaign (also featuring Leon Pryce) centred around Manchester, where the Grand Final takes place on Saturday 6 October. 

More information: extraordinaryrugby.com

Australia name four Cowboys to train on

Four North Queensland Cowboys players have been added to Australia’s train-on squad for the end-of-season test against New Zealand, following their side’s controversial play-off defeat at Manly.

The match takes place at the Cowboy’s Dairy farmers Stadium in Townsville, and Matthew Scott, James Tamou, Brent Tate and Jonathan Thurston could all play on their home ground.  They are joined by Canberra Raiders’ Blake Ferguson and David Shillington at this stage, while further players will be added to the train-on squad after this weekend’s semi-finals.

Where’s Mal?

The search is on for the ‘godfather’ of Scotland Students Rugby League: Mal Reid.

From his Aberdeen base, Mal was responsible for establishing the students’ game 25 years ago – a landmark Scotland Students will celebrate with a reunion of past players in Edinburgh on 13 October ahead of the following day’s Scotland v Ireland Alitalia European Cup international.

Organisers dearly want Mal to attend and would like to hear from anyone who knows his whereabouts. Anybody with information about Mal, or any past players wanting further information on the reunion, should email Phil Slaney at philipslaney@hotmail.com

Since1987 Scotland Students have competed in all the student game’s Home Nations, European Championships and World Cups, and pioneered tours to new areas such as Italy and Serbia.

At half-time during the Alitalia international there will be a presentation of past players, which include Nick Mardon who played for London Broncos in their famous win over Canberra Raiders in the 1997 World Club Championship. 

Other notable past players include Sheffield Eagles skipper Jack Howieson, St Helens caretaker coach Mike Rush and, on the coaching front, John Risman – son of Rugby League legend Gus.  

Fijian fast-track to RLWC2013?

One lucky Fijian could be fast-tracked into the NRL and the Rugby League World Cup in 2013. 

South Sydney Rabbitohs’ recruitment manager, Mark Hughes, was in Fiji at the weekend for the Vodafone Cup Final and a closer look at the local talent. According to Hughes, the emergence of players such as Akuila Uate, Sisa Waqa and Marika Koroibete means more NRL clubs are on the look-out for Fijian talent.

Any player chosen will be offered a place with the Rabbitohs’ under-20 development programme, which feeds straight into the senior squad.

Full story: Fiji Times