Paper Talk: Sinfield linked with rugby union switch, Odsal pitch deadline & Rowley’s return?

Sinfield to rugby union?

Leeds legend Kevin Sinfield is being linked with a move to rugby union Premiership side Leicester Tigers. The Rugby Paper reported at the weekend that the current director of rugby at the Rhinos was being lined up to join the backroom staff at Welford Road in a “sensational cross-code switch”. Sinfield had a brief spell in rugby union at the end of his playing career, but it is thought unlikely that he would give up his Leeds job to switch does.

The Odsal renaissance

The RFL expect the Odsal pitch to be back to the minimum width of 55 metres by the end of the month, reports League Express. After receiving special dispensation to play their games against York and Newcastle on a narrower surfacer, they must get back up to standard for the scheduled game with Widnes on June 27.

Leigh coach candidates

Paul Rowley is being linked with a return to Leigh, some five years after leaving the club. He enjoyed a successful spell between 2012 and 2016, winning back-to-back Championship titles. Also on the rumoured shortlist to replace John Duffy are Warrington duo Andrew Henderson and Lee Briers, former Hull coach Andy Last, another former Leigh coach in Kieron Purtill and Super League winning hooker Mickey Higham.

Peltier in hot water

Rugby league’s foray in to politics via ex-Bradford forward Ross Peltier has hit the breaks, after he was dumped by the Green Party over historic tweets. Peltier, a former Jamaica international, was running as a candidate in the Batley and Spen by election but has been forced to step down due to the ‘homophobic and sexist slurs’ made on his social media account between 2010 and 2013, reports Yorkshire Live. This was in spite of an apology made over the weekend, which some claimed was disingenuous.

The slow market

While Huddersfield are thought to have signed both Tui Lolohea and Theo Fages for next season, the player market is looking far from fluid for most clubs, reports Hull Live. There are growing concerns about the lack of depth to the player pool, which is leaving Super League clubs scratching their heads as to how to improve their squads.

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