Rugby League: Smith Waits to Name Skipper

Great Britain's new coach, Tony Smith, will defer his tricky decision between Jamie Peacock and Paul Sculthorpe as the national captain until he finalises a squad for his first game in charge against France in June. Sculthorpe has been the man in possession since Andy Farrell's move to rugby union two years ago, but has only led the Lions in one of their nine subsequent matches because of a series of knee injuries - one of which he suffered in his only appearance as captain against New Zealand at St Helens last summer.

That has left Peacock to fill in, and although the Leeds prop was initially a reluctant captain he proved an outstanding leader by example in last autumn's otherwise disappointing Tri-Nations series in Australia and New Zealand, earning official recognition as the best forward in the world. Both players have said they want the role, but Smith insisted yesterday that he will leave the position open until he names his first squad.

"It's definitely not stitched on," said Smith, who is also Peacock's club coach at Leeds where Kevin Sinfield is the captain. "There is no point naming a captain now when there is time for people to get injured or lose form before the Test. I'd rather let a leader emerge when we get together as a group."

That will be on June 18, with Britain's first Test against France since 2001 to be played on Friday June 22 at Headingley, Smith's home ground until he gives up his Leeds job to go full-time with the Rugby Football League for a three-Test series against New Zealand at the end of the season.

John Monie, the hugely successful former Wigan coach now in his third year with France, will select his side largely from Catalans Dragons. With Dragons currently in the top six of the Super League table, Smith is expecting a genuine test, although his first team selection will have an emphasis on youth with the 2008 World Cup in mind. He definitely needs to find a new scrum half after the St Helens veteran Sean Long announced his international retirement last week. "Everything is being geared towards the World Cup ultimately and maybe this is a good time to have a look at some different combinations," Smith said.

Tame Tupou, a powerful Brisbane Broncos wing, is set to join Bradford Bulls next week to replace Lesley Vainikolo when his move to rugby union with Gloucester is confirmed. Bradford are likely to face three of their former players at Odsal on Sunday with Warrington hopeful that Adrian Morley, Paul Johnson and Chris Bridge will all have recovered from long-term injury.