WARRINGTON Wolves boss Darryl Van de Velde is eyeing up British back-line talent.

With centre Jon Roper and winger Mark Forster having not yet signed new contracts and with flank players Jason Roach and Dean Hanger having been released, the Wolves' threequarter line currently looks thin on the ground.

Supporters, delighted with the signings of Allan Langer, Andrew Gee and Tawera Nikau, have raised their worries about the lack of threequarter depth to the GUARDIAN.

But Van de Velde does not seem concerned with the shortage of numbers out wide and says he has irons in the fire, even though he is keeping his cards close to his chest.

The GUARDIAN can reveal that the Wolves boss took a trip to Cardiff last Friday to check out the Wales Rugby Union World Cup game against Japan.

Van de Velde said: "I was just weighing up my options."

Former Wolves centre Allan Bateman, ex-St. Helens centre Scott Gibbs, Mark Taylor, Shane Howarth and Jason Jones-Hughes made up the Wales threequarters but finance is expected to be a problem for a big-name Union international signing.

Any signings are likely to take time as the transfer market is quiet at the moment, specially with the current international games taking place and with players' contracts running until the end of November.

However, the newly merged Huddersfield-Sheffield team, coached by John Kear, are leading the chase for Roper. Warrington have made him an offer which, so far, has not been accepted.

With Roper being 23-years-old any departure from Wilderspool would command a transfer fee.

Van de Velde said Kear spoke to him about Roper on Saturday but added that no fee was discussed. Kear may have money to spend after selling Sheffield centre Keith Senior to Leeds and from Super League handout money promised to clubs who amalgamate.

Roper played centre in Kear's England team which took on France in Carcasonne on Wednesday.

Wolves prop Mark Hilton (see story below) was a substitute for England in what was the first game in the International Challenge running throughout this month.

Tonight, Friday, Wales entertain Ireland in Swansea and again there is Warrington interest. Scrum half or stand off Lee Briers is in the Welsh squad while Mark Forster is in the Irish ranks.

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