Russians provide test for Goulding

The new Rochdale coach, Bobbie Goulding, will be back on the Challenge Cup trail when Hornets host Dynamo Moscow in the third round in February.

The former Great Britain scrum-half, who played in five finals with Wigan, Widnes and St Helens, winning four, will be returning to his favourite competition against Dynamo, who became the first Russian side to win a tie, when they beat West Bowling in the last round.

"If we can get through this, it will be great to get one of the big boys in the next round," said Goulding, who hopes to announce Paul Hulme as his assistant coach. "It will be a good chance for the club to earn some money, which is what we need."

Another former Wembley winner, the new Hull KR manager, Malcolm Reilly, faces a tie against the French side, UTC, who are earmarked for Super League in two years' time.

Elsewhere in last night's draw, the other French sides, Pia, Villeneuve and Limoux, were drawn to travel to Barrow, York and Gateshead. The other Russian club, Lokomotiv Moscow, are at Chorley.

The Warrington prop, Paul Wood, will find out today whether he needs exploratory surgery on the shoulder injury that ruled him out of the Test series against Australia. Wood was the surprise choice in the Great Britain squad for the Ashes series, but was injured in the warm-up match against New Zealand A.

Despite today's examination, Warrington are confident he will be fit for the start of the Super League season, when they play Wakefield in the inaugural game at their new Halliwell Jones Stadium on 21 February.

The élite of British rugby league have been learning how to pass on their knowledge.

The Wigan and Great Britain captain, Andy Farrell, St Helens' Paul Sculthorpe and Chris Joynt, Paul Deacon and Paul Anderson from Bradford and Mike Forhaw and Paul Newlove, recently signed by Warrington and Castleford respectively, are among those who have been put through an intensive coaching course at the Bolton Arena.