Rugby League: Wright gives Wigan an extra man

Wigan make a team change for their match against the London Broncos tonight that virtually amounts to acquiring a new player.

Nigel Wright will start a league match for the first time since August 1995, after overcoming a horrific series of injuries. Wright has started only 19 matches in almost four years at Wigan, but the need for another creator to lift part of the burden from Andy Farrell means that their coach, Eric Hughes, wants him on the field from the kick-off tonight.

Wright will play stand-off outside Tony Smith, which also means that he will be in direct opposition to Shaun Edwards, on his first return visit to Central Park since his transfer to London.

Edwards continues to be kept out of his usual position by the form of the Broncos' scrum-half, Josh White, who was this week named as the winner of the Stones Gold Award as the Super League player of the month for April.

Wigan will have Lee Hansen making his full debut and Henry Paul back in action at full-back after the back injury that kept him out for most of last month, but his brother, Bradford's Robbie, will be missing for up to six weeks, starting with Sunday's vital Super League game with their Wembley conquerors, St Helens.

The Bulls' captain has not broken a bone in his foot, as was first feared, but ligament damage will keep him out for at least a month. The Bradford forward, Sonny Nickle, will be out for a similar length of time after re-fracturing his arm at Wembley.