Rugby League: Goulding to stay

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

The St Helens captain, Bobbie Goulding, has delighted the club by withdrawing his transfer request.

The Saints board met yesterday to discuss Goulding's apparent determination to seek a move if the club would not improve his contract, but the scrum- half forestalled that meeting by asking the directors to cancel his request.

Eric Ashton, the St Helens chairman, said the club had not placated Goulding by agreeing to pay him any extra money and that Goulding had given no indication of why he had changed his mind.

Goulding, who has already, at the age of 25, played for Wigan, Leeds and Widnes, was Saints' key figure in winning the double of Challenge Cup and Super League last year, but was sent off in the Cup victory over Wigan on Saturday and faces a League disciplinary committee tomorrow.

Wigan's directors were last night discussing Newcastle's pounds 750,000 bid for Va'aiga Tuigamala. The former All Black is widely expected to return to rugby union this week.

St Helens, Wigan, Carlisle and Dudley Hill are all to face a League sub- committee on Friday over brawls in their Cup-ties last weekend.

The televised fifth-round tie on 22 February is to be the London Broncos' match against Bradford Bulls, which will be played at The Stoop, their new home this season.