O'Neill can make move to Widnes

Wigan will not stand in the way of Julian O'Neill's move to Widnes and will not fill the second vacant import spot it will release. Widnes are expected to complete the free transfer and solve their problems at stand-off and goal-kicker, although possibly not in time for him to make his debut against Halifax on Sunday.

His present club are disappointed with O'Neill, both on and off the field, although the Wigan chairman, Maurice Lindsay, said they were tempted to keep him. "He's welcome to stay if he wants, but we'll support him if he decides to go," said Lindsay. "I think he'll do a good job for Widnes and he's certainly an immaculate goal-kicker."

O'Neill played 11 games for Widnes in the 1992-3 season, at the start of a stormy career that has seen him hired and fired by a series of Australian clubs before coming to Wigan last year. He will be the fourth experienced member of last year's Challenge Cup-winning side to leave the JJB Stadium, but Lindsay says he will not be replaced. "We could now bring in two overseas players, but we won't," he said. "We have to give more experience to our young players."

Widnes did make one signing yesterday. The Doncaster back Marvin Golden has joined them for the rest of the season.

The new Kingston Communications Stadium in Hull will host its first international when Australia meet Great Britain in the second Test on 15 November. The first Test, a week earlier, will be at Wigan, with the third at Huddersfield on 22 November.

The Australians are also to play England A at Brentford on 28 October and Wales, at a venue to be decided, on 2 November. Great Britain's warm-up will be against New Zealand A at Headingley on 29 October.

Increased representative commitments mean that Yorkshire and Lancashire will meet just once this season, at Odsal on 2 July.