Raynor trains for return at Bradford

(GETTY IMAGES)

The former Great Britain winger Gareth Raynor is to resume his career at Bradford when he gets out of prison.

Raynor is serving a nine-month sentence for his part in a counterfeit ink cartridge fraud, plus a six-month suspended term for an earlier assault case. He is due to be released on New Year's Eve, but could be out earlier on licence. He has spent most of his sentence working in the gym in an open prison in South Yorkshire.

"The regime that he has been living under during his sentence had enabled him to maintain his core strength and fitness, and his appetite for the game remains undiminished," the Bradford chairman, Peter Hood, said yesterday.

Raynor has spent most of his career at Hull. He signed for Crusaders at the start of this season, but had his contract cancelled when he was jailed. "I can't wait to pull on the shirt and start repaying the club's faith in me the best way I can, by scoring tries," Raynor said.

Two St Helens props at opposite ends of their careers have signed for Castleford. Nick Fozzard has agreed a one-year deal and Jacob Emmitt two. The much-travelled Fozzard is 33, while Emmitt, who has spent much of this season on loan to Leigh, is just 21.

"Fozzie has had a long and illustrious career in the game and his experience will be vital for our young guys," said the Cas coach, Terry Matterson. "Jacob is a big and skilful prop whose signing really complements the strength we have up front."

The two Wigan players who shared the Albert Goldthorpe Medal are also on the shortlist for the Man of Steel award. Sam Tomkins and Pat Richards are joined on the list by the Warrington captain, Adrian Morley.

Tomkins and Richards could be involved in a back-line reshuffle for tonight's sudden death play-off against Hull KR. With Paul Deacon out with a groin strain, Michael Maguire could play Tomkins in his original position of stand-off, with Richards moving to full-back and Amos Roberts coming in on the wing.

The former Widnes winger Chris Percival has died of cancer at the age of 30.