You are in > manchester.com  > News > Vainikolo 'could play Challenge Cup'

Rugby League

Vainikolo 'could play Challenge Cup'

28/06/2007

Bradford Bulls winger Lesley Vainikolo may still be able to play for his rugby league club in this season's Challenge Cup, despite being on the verge of a switch to rugby union.

The 28-year-old is set to join Guinness Premiership side Gloucester on July 1st and plays his final Super League match for the Bulls in tomorrow night's match against Leeds Rhinos at Headingley Carnegie.

However the club have confirmed that a clause in his contract allows him to return to Bradford for the cup semi-final against St Helens on July 28th and perhaps even the final.

"There's always that option while we're still in the competition - I think Les is keen on it," Bulls coach Steve McNamara told the BBC.

"There's a possibility there for the semi-final if we think that we want to bring Les back for that game."

McNamara dismissed the suggestion that it would be akin to bringing a player in on a short-term loan to play in the one-off fixture.

"It wouldn't be like playing in a player from outside," he continued. "He's one of ours and it'd be a very interesting decision to have to make."

Vainikolo was given an emotional send-off by Bradford fans who packed into Odsal earlier this month to say their goodbyes to the giant winger.

And although the New Zealander was held tryless during his side's 34-8 victory over Hull FC, he scored a last-minute goal to take his points tally for the club to 594 in 151 games.

© Adfero Ltd