Three Southerners in England's World Cup Squad

Three southerners are in contention for places in the England squad for this autumn's World Cup after being included in an initial training group to work for the next month with the national coach, Tony Smith. Tony Clubb and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook of Harlequins, and the Huddersfield prop Darrell Griffi, who are from Gravesend, the Isle of Dogs and Oxford respectively, were among 13 names announced by Smith yesterday from the six Super League clubs who have failed to qualify for the grand final play-offs.

Rob Purdham, the Quins club captain who moved down to London from Cumbria seven years ago, is also included, along with the 18-year-old Castleford loose forward Joe Westerman and his Tigers team-mate Michael Shenton, and also the Hull wing Gareth Raynor even though he is the subject of an ongoing police investigation into an alleged ink cartridge counterfeiting scam and is due to appear in court early next month.

James Graham, the St Helens prop who is a certain inclusion in Smith's final squad, claimed the first individual honor of the Super League season yesterday when he was named the Rugby League Writers' Association player of the year, marking him out as the front-runner for the Engage Man of Steel award which will be decided by the players this year, and announced on September 30.

Meanwhile, Daryl Powell, the former Great Britain utility back and Leeds coach who has been working in rugby union since being eased upstairs at the Rhinos three years ago, is back in league after being appointed as the new head coach of Featherstone Rovers.

England training squad: Aspinwall (Huddersfield),Atkins (Wakefield), Briscoe (Hull KR), Carvell (Hull), Clubb (Harlequins),Fox (Hull KR), Griffin (Huddersfield), Hodgson (Huddersfield), Purdham(Harlequins), Raynor (Hull), McCarthy-Scarsbrook (Harlequins), Shenton(Castleford), Westerman (Castleford)

Wigan opt for Halliwell Jones Stadium

The play-offs will begin in Widnes this Friday, after Wigan chose the Stobart Stadium ahead of Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium as a neutral venue for their elimination tie against Bradford Bulls. The Warriors had been forced to give up home advantage by the JJB Stadium management company because of a Premier League football game between Wigan Athletic and Sunderland the following day.

Wigan's prop Iafeta Paleaaesina has been spared the threat of any disciplinary action following an off-the-ball clash with Graham in last Friday's derby at Knowsley Road, the Rugby Football League's video review panel deciding to take no further action. The Leeds full-back Brent Webb was also reprieved for a high tackle on Wakefield's Danny Brough that had been put on report during the Rhinos' 30-12 win at Belle Vue, clearing the New Zealander to face St Helens in the qualifying semi final at Knowsley Road on Friday week. However Warrington's prop Rob Parker is in danger of missing the Wolves' play-off against the Catalans Dragons in Perpignan on Saturday after being summoned to appear at a disciplinary hearing tonight because of his dangerous tackling technique.