Rugby League: Vainikolo to Delay Exit Until End of June

Bradford will today confirm Lesley Vainikolo's departure for rugby union, but the New Zealand wing hopes to lead them into the Challenge Cup semi-finals and to revenge over Leeds before he leaves.

Vainikolo is to delay his move to Gloucester until the end of June, which means he will be available for the Bulls' cup quarter-final at home to Huddersfield and a farewell appearance at Headingley when Bradford play the Rhinos for the first time since their controversial recent defeat at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Tame Tupou, the Kiwi wing who Bradford have signed from Brisbane Broncos as a replacement, is set to make his debut at home to Harlequins on Sunday week.

But Bradford have major injury problems ahead of Friday's Super League game at Huddersfield, after losing Matt Cook for up to three months with wrist ligament damage and Jamie Langley for at least three weeks with a hamstring problem. Iestyn Harris is also doubtful with a dead leg and the Bulls could give Super League debuts to Jason Crookes - a 17-year-old centre - and Ritchie Hawkyard.

Yesterday's Challenge Cup quarter-final draw kept the big guns apart and denied Catalans Dragons the chance of a televised tie to Barcelona. Instead they must travel to Hull, while Warrington have an even more daunting task at holders St Helens.

The Rugby Football League's director of referees Stuart Cummings has continued his humiliation of Ashley Klein for his role in Bradford's defeat by Leeds by appointing him for a low-key National League match between Sheffield and Dewsbury on Friday. Steve Ganson, who awarded the crucial penalty to Leeds on the recommendation of Klein in his role as video referee, will take charge of Wigan's Super League game against Hull Kingston Rovers.

Carnegie Challenge Cup quarter-finals Wigan v Harlequins (June 8, 8pm), St Helens v Warrington (June 9, 12.15, BBC), Hull v Catalans Dragons (June 10, 3.15), Bradford v Huddersfield (June 10, 2.15, BBC).