Sampson available for Castleford

Castleford have been given a boost for tomorrow night's championship meeting with title-chasing Leeds in the powerful form of their prop forward Dean Sampson.

Sampson has been cleared to play by Rugby League officials after originally being told he must sit out the game. He was suspended for four matches following his sending-off at Halifax last month, ruling him out of England's game against Wales in Cardiff.

His club believed the international would count towards Sampson's suspension, meaning his first game back would be this week's meeting with Leeds.

The Rugby League ruled otherwise, but the game's board of directors decided yesterday that as Sampson's replacement in the England squad, Leeds' Harvey Howard, played against Wales, it will be included.

But in the light of the Sampson case and controversy surrounding Martin Offiah's withdrawal from Great Britain's World Sevens squad, the board has said it will review the laws governing internationals.

Offiah, of Wigan, did not go to the Sevens in Australia because of injury, but recovered in time to face Castleford six days later - the same weekend the Sevens took place.