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Copyright 2005 Guardian Newspapers Limited
The Guardian (London) - Final Edition

January 15, 2005

HEADLINE: Rugby league: Gamble refused on new title sponsors

BYLINE: Steve Kilgallon

BODY:
    The Super League has shied away from a potentially controversial title sponsorship with an online poker business, and is instead pursuing its original £900,000 deal with a finance company.

    The online gamblers had been linked with a deal to replace the brewers Carlsberg-Tetley as title sponsors. But the 12 clubs meeting in Salford on Wednesday were told the deal with the finance company, which will attach one of its subsidiary brands to the Super League, was likely to be signed early next week. The Rugby Football League would not comment yesterday.

    The Tri-Nations' place in the 2005 calendar has finally been confirmed after an agreement to take two matches to New Zealand placated the competition's critics in Australasia. The tournament between Great Britain, Australia and the Kiwis was a huge success last year, but the Australians were concerned that their players spent too much time away.

    The London Broncos are in talks with the Coventry union club to take the game against Hull to the Barkers Butts Stadium on July 3. London have already switched their home game with Leeds Rhinoes on July 9 to Perpignan in south-east France and are resigned to moving a second match from Griffin Park due to reseeding work.

    The Leeds coach Tony Smith has responded to critics of next Tuesday's cross-code training session with the England union team by saying the Rhinos will reap as many benefits as England.

    Wigan's Great Britain hooker Terry Newton has flown to Florida for their pre-season camp convinced he will be fit to start the season despite a knee cartilage operation.

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