Lowes lands Warrington coaching job until end of the season

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Warrington have appointed James Lowes as their coach until the end of the season.

The former Bradford and Great Britain hooker took over following Paul Cullen’s resignation. The Wolves have won both their matches since then and Lowes now has another ten to press his claims.

“I’ve never denied that I want the job full-time,” he said. “I’m going to enjoy every minute.”

The England coach, Tony Smith, denied earlier this week that Lowes would be keeping the job warm for him to take over next season.

The England winger, Mark Calderwood, is to leave Wigan at the end of the season, with Hull his likely destination.

Calderwood signed from Leeds three years ago, but has struggled to reproduce his Rhinos form at Wigan.

Now he has been told that there is no contract on offer for next year and that he is free to find a new club.

“It's disappointing but no great surprise,” he said. “Now that the uncertainty is over I can plan ahead long term.”

Calderwood, still only 26, has said that he wants to return to Yorkshire, where there is likely to be no shortage of bidders for a player of genuine pace.

The early favourites are Hull, whose Australian Test winger, Matt Sing, is retiring at the end of this season.

Hull's other winger, Gareth Raynor, is struggling to be fit for their game at Bradford this Sunday. The incumbent Test wingman will not be picked for England's game in France the following Friday unless he can show that he has recovered from a leg injury.

Bradford's Basil Richards, who will assist Tony Smith for the French Test, has also been appointed England Academy coach for their tour to Australia next month.

The tour party has not yet been named, but Whitehaven have revealed that their 17-year-old sensation, Gregg McNally, has been selected after just two first-team games.

England's World Cup squad is also to play Wales before departing for the tournament in October.

Halifax are vying with Featherstone to take Leeds' reserve winger, Danny Williams, on loan for the rest of the season. Matty Smith has joined Widnes from St Helens under a similar arrangement.

The RFL has sent its condolences to the family of David Topliss, the former Great Britain stand-off who died suddenly on Monday at the age of 58.