Bloem to be charged : Rugby league

The South African full-back, Jamie Bloem, is to be charged with bringing the game into disrepute. The League has decided to act following his contribution to a newspaper article, which claimed drug-taking was rife throughout the sport.

League chiefs have informed the 23-year-old that he will have to answer charges under by-law 25, and a hearing will be arranged as soon as possible. Bloem was banned for two years after testing positive for anabolic steroids.

Five English-born players qualified for Wales under the grandparent rule are likely to be used in the match against England in Cardiff on Wednesday. Paul Atcheson, Kelvin Skerrett, Martin Hall and Neil Cowie of Wigan, plus the Leeds second-row, Richie Eyres, are all in a 19-man squad for the opening match in the John Smith's European Championship.