Bradford lose out as McAvoy swaps codes

Bradford Bulls' England three-quarter Nathan McAvoy is set to switch to rugby union after failing to agree a new contract with the club.

"We were in talks with Nathan, but it doesn't look like we have agreed anything," the Bulls' coach, Brian Noble, said. "He's a talented player and we were keen to offer him a contract, but he seems to want a fresh challenge in rugby union."

The former Salford player is expected to join Darrall Shelford, until recently the Bulls' assistant coach, at Saracens. His departure increases the likelihood of Bradford signing Leeds' unwanted Karl Pratt, if he wins free agent status at a tribunal today.

Craig Poucher, the utility back released by Hull, has changed his mind yet again about joining the London Broncos. Poucher initially declined to travel to Australia with the Broncos for their winter training camp, then relented and agreed to fly out and link up with them.

Now he has had a change of heart in mid-air. "I was never really happy with the move to London, but I agreed to fly to Australia and meet up with the rest of the squad," he said. "During the flight I began to think that this wasn't the move for me."

Poucher stayed three hours in Sydney before leaving for home on the next flight.