Castleford full-back Gay forced to retire

Castleford's full-back, Richard Gay, has announced his retirement after the diagnoses of a benign brain tumour.

Gay, 33 and with the Tigers since the start of Super League seven years ago, is in the last year of his contract but had hoped to play again for them before the end of the season and then possibly in a lower division.

But he has accepted medical advice to retire immediately. "After 15 years of professional rugby league the decision to retire from the game I love was very hard indeed,'' he said.

St Helens expect Sean Long to play again this season, but admit that he might need another knee operation that could keep him out of Great Britain's series against New Zealand.

He missed Saints' defeat by Wigan on Sunday after having minor surgery. Wigan's Andy Farrell is another Great Britain player likely to be out this weekend after suffering a thigh injury on Sunday.