Liverpool in the reckoning to stage international final

The Rugby Football League says dates and venues are still being finalised but a spokesman confirmed that the home of Liverpool FC is in the reckoning.

“We can confirm Anfield is one of the venues being considered for the Four Nations Series but nothing has been finalised,” said the spokesman.

The RFL are keen to try out new venues after being encouraged by the crowd of 44,393 at London’s Olympic Stadium for last November’s Test match between England and Australia, although Anfield has staged rugby league in the past.

It was the venue for the World Club Challenge in 1991 when a crowd of 20,152 turned out for a Tuesday night game between Wigan and Penrith and St Helens were pleased with an attendance of 12,329 for a league game against Castleford in 1997.

It is thought Anfield could host the Four Nations final on Saturday, November 19.

Coventry’s Ricoh Arena is expected to host a double-header, featuring England against Scotland and Australia against New Zealand, while England are set to return to the Olympic Stadium for the big game with the Kangaroos.

Huddersfield, Hull KR and Workington are other venues thought to be under consideration, with organisers dropping their initial plans to take a game to Scotland.

Hunslet Hawks were handed a home tie against Super League opposition in the fifth round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup.

Hawks’ reward for victories over Kingstone Press League One rivals Barrow Raiders and Doncaster is to face Salford Red Devils at South Leeds Stadium on the weekend of April 16-17.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats will play host to Sheffield Eagles, whose assistant-coach is ex-Leeds Rhinos hero Keith Senior.

Wildcats will be expected to progress, but suffered a shock home defeat by another Championship team Leigh Centurions in last year’s sixth round.

And the Super League outfit were beaten 24-10 by Sheffield in the middle-eights Qualifiers last September.

Last year’s bottom four Super League teams enter a round earlier than the rest of the top flight.

Widnes Vikings visit Rochdale Hornets and Hull KR will be at home to Oldham.

Batley Bulldogs will have home advantage against Featherstone Rovers in an all-Championship tie and Dewsbury Rams – who stunned Bradford Bulls in round four – will expect to go through at home to League One side York City Knights.

Castleford-based National Conference outfit Lock Lane, the only community club left in the competition, visit Halifax.

Full draw:

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats v Sheffield Eagles, Hull KR v Oldham, Toulouse Olympique XIII v Leigh Centurions, Rochdale Hornets v Widnes Vikings, Hunslet Hawks v Salford Red Devils, Halifax v Lock Lane, Batley Bulldogs v Featherstone Rovers, Dewsbury Rams v York City Knights.