RFL to explore racial slur claim

LUCAS ONYANGO

THE RUGBY Football League is to investigate the allegation that a racial slur was aimed at winger Lucas Onyango by a Hunslet Hawks player.

Referee Craig Halloran placed the alleged incident on report after complaints from Oldham that a Hawks player had abused Onyango during the Roughyeds’ 42-12 Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth-round exit at the South Leeds Stadium last Sunday.

The clash was a fiery one in which the visitors picked up two yellow cards and a red to the Hawks’ sole yellow.

“The RFL has begun an investigation to look into allegations of racist comments made against Lucas Onyango by a Hunslet Hawks player,” said a spokesperson from the game’s governing body, who confirmed that the incident had been included in Halloran’s report.

“The RFL will be speaking to all the people concerned and will then make a recommendation to the RFL’s disciplinary committee.”

The Chronicle understands that neither Halloran nor the touch judge nearest the incident heard exactly what was allegedly said between the players concerned and that the match DVD does not illuminate the situation.

Meanwhile, winger John Gillam and back-row forwards Ian Hodson and Kashley Watkins, who all showed up well in the last reserve-team game at Featherstone, are scrapping for places in the Roughyeds side to meet Gateshead Thunder at Sedgley Park tomorrow (kick-off 7.30pm).

Gillam has been battling to overcome a shoulder injury for the past 11 weeks, but he played well on comeback in the reserves at Post Office Road last Friday and suffered no ill effects.

Hodson, who can operate in any of the back-row positions or at stand-off, played in the pivotal No 6 role in the same match.

Watkins has yet to make his Roughyeds debut in cup or league, having broken a wrist in a pre-season game at Batley in January, but he also came through the last reserves game unscathed.

Ben Heaton, who has played in each of the Roughyeds’ 11 cup and league games so far, has been toiling against back trouble in the last couple of matches and gets a well-earned rest.

Coach Tony Benson has so far named a 21-man squad which he will trim to 17 after late fitness checks on centre Mick Fogerty (ankle), Onyango (knee) and prop Wayne Kerr (ankle).

Oldham (from): Ashe, Boults, Brocklehurst, Chandler, Clarke, Ellison, Fogerty, Gillam, Hodson, I’Anson, Kerr, O’Connor, Onyango, Reilly, Robinson, M Roden, N Roden, St Hilaire, Sutton, Watkins, Whitmore.