Outsiders looking to share honour and advantage of World Cup

A host of clubs and regions have gone public recently to announce bids for fixtures when the tournament arrives in the UK in a little over two years.

Hull FC and Hull KR have joined forces in an effort to make the East Yorkshire city a fulcrum of the competition while Leeds Rhinos, St Helens and Widnes have all made applications to the RFL.

Whitehaven and Workington have also combined in an attempt to earn West Cumbria a piece of the action.

However, the Yorkshire Post understands there has been considerable enthusiasm from less obvious quarters including the south-west with cities such as Bristol, Bath and Reading believed to be preparing bids.

Any parties have to lodge their interest with the governing body by Friday and those who are successful will be announced in October.

The England side, meanwhile, will soon discover the third Exiles player they are likely to face in the inaugural Origin International Match – a game designed to increase their chances of performing to a higher level in that World Cup by pitting them against Engage Super League’s finest Australians and New Zealanders.

So far, only captain Danny Buderus and vice-captain Thomas Leuluai have been confirmed for the June 10 encounter with fans having the opportunity to choose 13 of the 22 squad members.

Exiles coach Brian McClennan and assistant Terry Matterson pick the other nine, announcing one per week.

The first will be named tomorrow lunchtime, Castleford Tigers stand-off Rangi Chase a big favourite to get the nod given his stunning form with the surprise Super League leaders.

Huddersfield Giants, who trail Castleford only by points difference, have been dealt a blow with news Andy Raleigh is ruled out for the rest of the month with an eye injury.

The prop, 30, suffered a tear to his right iris after he was accidentally poked in the eye during the closing stages of their 29-10 win over Warrington last Friday .

Huddersfield hope to offset Raleigh’s loss with the return of Darrell Griffin and David Fa’alogo for the trip to Leeds on Friday.

Their opponents may be without Carl Ablett as he faces a RFL disciplinary committee this evening charged with making a dangerous tackle on Hull KR prop Rhys Lovegrove in Leeds’s 38-28 loss at Craven Park.