Kiwi Test Calls Leave Wigan and Leeds Riled

Leeds will be without their New Zealand full-back Brent Webb for tomorrow week's Challenge Cup tie at Harlequins after the Rugby League International Federation ruled that they must release him to play for the Kiwis against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The RLIF rejected appeals from Leeds and Wigan, whose scrum-half Thomas Leuluai has also been selected by New Zealand's new coach, Stephen Kearney, that their players should not be required to play international rugby with so little time to recover. "It is ridiculous to place such demands on players," said the Leeds chief executive, Gary Hetherington. "They should not be put in this position."

Wigan are not so concerned about losing Leuluai for their fifth-round Cup tie at home to Whitehaven on Monday week but they face Warrington in the Super League the following Friday and their chief executive, Joe Lydon, said: "To expect a player to travel 24,000 miles and play three games in 11 days, including a Test match, is unfair."

Hull KR have released their former captain James Webster after he was ruled out for the rest of the season. The 28-year-old Australian had six months left on his contract but faces a minimum of a three-month lay-off with shoulder ligament damage. His release is expected to pave the way for the arrival of another Australian scrum-half, Michael Dobson, who enjoyed successful stints two years ago with Catalans Dragons and Wigan. Rovers are thought to have agreed a 2½-year deal with the 21-year-old, who has secured a release from Canberra Raiders and had the choice of other Super League clubs.

Webster, who yesterday underwent surgery, joined Hull KR from Parramatta in 2005 and his appearance against Leeds last Friday was his 98th for the club. He also briefly held the role of player-coach before the arrival of Justin Morgan, guiding Rovers to victory in the 2005 Northern Rail Cup final.