Dragons lose fire of Fakir to union
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Your support makes all the difference.Catalans Dragons are to lose their second-rower Jamal Fakir to rugby union – for a year at least. The France international has agreed a 12-month deal with Castres, with an option to extend it if he settles. Even as he signed, however, Fakir said that he expected to be back in rugby league at some stage.
For today's game against Hull the Catalans, who are making a determined attempt to sign Brett Finch from Melbourne, are without the injured Casey McGuire. Andrew Bentley is added to the squad.
Hull have Sean Long back in their side for the first time since Easter, with Craig Fitzgibbon also back.
In today's other match, a win at Salford will enable St Helens to keep up the pressure on Wigan and Warrington at the top of the table. The Reds have problems in their front row, with Rob Parker and Ray Cashmere both on the long-term injury list, and have included a 19-year-old forward, Jack Spencer, in the squad.
The biggest game tomorrow is at Huddersfield, where the home side have to regroup against pacesetters Wigan after a trying week . The Giants were thrashed 60-4 by Warrington in the Challenge Cup last weekend and have since had it confirmed that coach Nathan Brown is leaving after this season.
For a testing fixture in which to try to turn things around, Brown is able to recall Shaun Lunt and Stephen Wild, but will primarily be looking for a much improved performance from the players who flopped last week.
David Mills could go straight into Harlequins' team for the visit of Castleford tomorrow. The Wales prop, who was in London for the 2006 and 2007 seasons, has returned on a month's loan from Hull KR, where he has not figured this year. His arrival is timely, with two props, Danny Ward and Ben Jones, added to Quins' injury list this week. Kevin Penny returns to the side after being Cup-tied last week.
Gareth Raynor is back in the frame for Crusaders at Hull KR. The former Great Britain winger has been kept out by a whiplash injury which he suffered against St Helens in March.
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