Paid-off Leeds Still on Harris's Case

Leeds may have finally settled their long-running legal dispute with Bradford Bulls over Iestyn Harris's return from Welsh rugby union in 2004 but, for Harris himself, the saga is far from over. The Rhinos said yesterday that they were not abandoning the case against their former captain despite having secured an undisclosed sum - thought to run to six figures - in compensation and costs from Bradford, plus an apology from the Bulls' chairman, Peter Hood.

At a preliminary hearing in July 2005 a high court judge found that Harris had failed to honor a clause in his contract with Leeds when he returned to league with Bradford 12 months earlier. A full hearing to determine compensation, at which Bradford were also expecting to be sued for £3.2m for inducing Harris to break that contract, was due to be heard next spring. For the Bulls that prospect - described as "horrendous" by Hood this year - has now been averted. The 31-year-old Harris, however, has no such relief: Bradford are reserving the right to pursue legal action against him and the solicitors who advised him four years ago. He has since dispensed with the firm's services and instigated legal action against it.

Leeds said they were "satisfied" with the compensation agreed, in addition to an agreed statement which included an unqualified apology and a climb-down from Hood. "Bradford Bulls wish to make it clear that the comments made by [Hood] in January 2008 were not intended to give the impression that Leeds Rhinos' claims against Harris and Bradford were motivated by anything other than the protection of Leeds Rhinos' interests."

Bradford have announced a one-year contract extension for their popular forward Glenn Morrison, and Leeds hope to have Gareth Ellis back in their side for Sunday's Challenge Cup tie at Harlequins.