IF you've had a busy week and want a quick catch-up, here's this week's rugby league signings, departures and general news updates in brief:
- Tonga international Ukuma Ta’ai is joining ambitious Betfred Championship club Newcastle Thunder for the 2021 season following his release by Huddersfield.
- Warringtonian Ireland international Tyrone McCarthy has joined Betfred Super League new boys Leigh Centurions from Salford Red Devils for the 2021 season.
- France international Benjamin Garcia has been appointed as the new captain of Catalans Dragons.
- Betting company Betfred has completed a clean sweep of domestic rugby league sponsorship by adding the Challenge Cup to its long-running deal with Super League.
- Wales chief executive Gareth Kear is urging organisers of the international game not to ignore the rest of the home nations after a request to play England in mid-season fell on deaf ears.
- Clubs will kick off the 2021 rugby league season without scrums but they could be re-introduced later in the year if there is a let-up in the coronavirus pandemic.
- England international George Burgess has left Wigan by mutual consent on medical grounds, the club have announced.
- St George Illawarra have dropped their pursuit of Catalans Dragons’ controversial centre Israel Folau.
- Rugby league bosses will have their say in a Government review into sponsorship by betting companies that threatens to hit the game’s finances.
- Huddersfield’s Jamaica international Michael Lawrence will help spearhead rugby league’s bid to become a truly inclusive sport. The 30-year-old forward, who was Super League’s top tackler in 2020, will sit on the Rugby Football League’s inclusion board which was launched on Tuesday as part of the governing body’s commitment to diversity, inclusion and anti-discrimination.
- David Rose, who helped Great Britain win the inaugural Rugby League World Cup in 1954 with a crucial try in the final against France, has died aged 89 in his native Scotland.
- New Zealand full-back Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has refused to commit to the 2021 Rugby League World Cup after his switch of codes for 2022 was confirmed.
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