Pre-season games up in the air with start on horizon

With some teams set to start their campaign for real in less than a fortnight, many are struggling to take to the field due to the big freeze.

The Richard Horne testimonial match between Hull and Hull KR at the KC Stadium is set to go ahead though with pre-match tickets sales topping 13,000.

Hull will give debuts to Australians Craig Fitzgibbon and Mark O'Meley, as well as new captain Sean Long, while Rovers are expected to play Scott Murrell in his new role of hooker.

Harlequins' game with Crusaders has been called off because of the weather and tomorrow's Mike Bennett testimonial game between St Helens and Barrow fell victim yesterday.

But there are no such problems for Castleford, who round off their training camp in the south of France this evening with a trial game against Catalans Dragons.

The Catalans will give debuts to new overseas signings Dallas Johnson, Chris Walker and Setaimata Sa in a virtually full-strength line-up which has delighted Tigers coach Terry Matterson.

"We will face a big test but that's exactly what we want," he said. "It wouldn't serve any real purpose at this stage to face lesser opposition and win comfortably.

"And as well as that, the trip does provide an opportunity to gel together.

"We haven't made too many changes this time but aside from training and a couple of the away trips, the guys don't get too many opportunities to be together as a squad, so this is a good team-building exercise.

"We are all looking for a change of scene, some quality training and a good game, all of which can only be beneficial to us as we prepare for the Super League kick-off."

Huddersfield are sending a reserve team to Whitehaven while the first-team squad head to Newcastle for a week's training on an indoor full-sized 3G pitch.

The Giants, meanwhile, have been given permission by the League to carry over Eorl Crabtree's testimonial match into 2011 after being unable to find a new date for the postponed game with Halifax.

Wakefield entertain Wigan tomorrow with all clubs playing getting the opportunity to familiarise themselves with two minor rule changes designed to increase the safety of players.

Referees will deem a tackle complete when one of the ball-carrier's legs is lifted by the defending team – previously both legs had to be off the ground – and the League have outlawed the growing practice of defenders dragging players into touch or back towards their own in-goal area.