SIMON Katich and Ashley Noffke will look to press their Test claims as Australia's tour of the Caribbean begins on Saturday morning (EST) against a Jamaica XI.

FORMER Australia captain Steve Waugh and his twin brother Mark will have to wait a little longer to have a stand named after them on their home ground.

THE match between Western Force and the Brumbies in Perth may be meaningless in terms of the Super 14 play-offs, but it will still be an important trial for Australia selection.

ANDREW Johns is bringing science back to Origin football.

BULLDOGS coach Steve Folkes has launched a spirited defence of half-back Daniel Holdsworth, labelling the fans who have viciously turned on the playmaker as "disgraceful".

THE major sports in Australia agrees they face the danger of cashed-up foreign clubs luring players away, but rugby union faces the most immediate danger.

THE three SANZAR partners can't agree which ELVs to use in the Tri-Nations. Australia and South Africa are believed to be keen to use the Super 14 ELVs, but New Zealand are not.

IAN Millward will join Canberra next year as assistant coach for two seasons.

AS good as Kurtley Beale may be for New South Wales, Chris Latham can't rate him as teammates are being asked to do his work in the front line of defence.

BULLDOGS star Sonny Bill Williams has escalated his interest in switching codes by sounding out former Australia coach Eddie Jones over a potential rugby union career in Europe.

CLINTON Schifcofske is leaving Queensland for Belfast, meaning the Reds have six players signing off with the Super 14 match against New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium.

AUSTRALIA coach Robbie Deans has spent "several hours" trying to persuade Rocky Elsom to shun a lucrative stint in Ireland, and stay in Australia.

JOE Williams is poised to lead the Bulldogs into battle against table-topping Gold Coast at Skilled Park, less than a day after joining the club from Penrith.

JUST 12 months after making his Melbourne debut, Will Chambers faces the daunting tag of seniority, with only Steve Turner and Cooper Cronk as backline regulars alongside him.

AUCKLAND junior Isaak Ah Mau has always had ability. But he's eradicating the lazy efforts and selfishness from his game to stand on the brink of NRL honours with Brisbane.

QUEENSLAND'S decision not to select Steve Bell was astute, with the Manly centre having subsequently been ruled out for three weeks.

BRITAIN'S central bank has warned the UK may be following the US into recession, despite a growing belief the worst of the credit crunch has passed.

COMMONWEALTH Bank chief Ralph Norris has refused to rule out a counter-bid on Westpac's takeover move on St George.

MARGIN loans and inadequate disclosure may have derailed ABC Learning but outgoing chairman Sallyanne Atkinson says there is too much corporate regulation.