Rhinos duo charged by RFL for pushing Headingley ref

The Rugby Football League last night charged the Grand Final Winning duo of the Grade C offence of making deliberate physical contact with Mirfield official Richard Silverwood in the 36th minute of the feisty Headingley game. Leeds won 26-18, but at the time of the alleged incident – not picked up by the watching Sky cameras – Chris Hill had pulled the Wolves level.

If found guilty at tonight’s RFL Disciplinary Committee meeting, both players could be hit with up to three-match bans.

Warrington hooker Micky Higham has also been charged with the Grade B offence of making a high tackle on Rhinos’ Rob Burrow in the same match.

Another two Yorkshire-based players also face RFL charges tonight. Bradford Bulls stand-off Jarrod Sammut has been charged with the Grade B offence of illegal use of the forearm/elbow on Hull KR’s Craig Hall.

While Hull FC prop Mark O’Meley has been charged with the Grade B offence of making dangerous contact on St Helens’ Tony Puletua.

Veteran forward Nick Fozzard has confirmed his retirement from the game owing to a shoulder injury.

The 35-year-old former Great Britain international, who was seeing out the final year of his career with Championship side Dewsbury, has a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder and has ended his time as a player early as a result.

“I am gutted that we have lost a player of this calibre,” said Dewsbury coach Warren Jowitt.

“He would not have been back for nine months and he is devastated that his career has ended.”

A Challenge Cup and World Club Challenge winner with St Helens, Fozzard became one of the most feared front-rowers in the Super League with the Saints and was named in the 2007 Dream Team as a result.

He also played for Leeds, Huddersfield, Warrington and Hull KR, as well as having another spell with the Saints.

His last season in Super League came last year with Castleford.

Hull and England centre Kirk Yeaman has undergone surgery on his injured foot.

Yeaman and the club have decided to take action now after he was left facing up to at least a fortnight on the sidelines following an arm injury suffered in Friday’s win at St Helens.

The Black and Whites do not yet know when the 28-year-old will return, but coach Peter Gentle is glad to have sorted the matter out.

“We felt it was an opportune time to get Kirk in for his operation as he has been struggling with a minor problem with his foot,” he said.