Leeds sign hottest prospect Zak Hardaker from Featherstone

Leeds have signed Zak Hardaker, a teenage Featherstone Rovers wing who was comfortably the hottest young prospect outside the Super League, on a five-year contract, under which he will stay at the Championship club on loan next season. Hardaker, only 19, was the Championship's young player of the year after scoring 22 tries in 14 appearances in his first season with Rovers, and had also been strongly linked with Warrington. But Leeds moved in quickly last week to agree a transfer fee of around £60,000, the amount they are understood to have received from Canterbury Bulldogs for releasing the New Zealand forward Greg Eastwood from the last two years of his contract at Headingley. "Zak is one of the best and most exciting young talents in our game and has the potential to play at the highest level," said the Leeds chief executive, Gary Hetherington. "This signing is one for the future and has been funded from the fee received from Canterbury Bulldogs for Greg Eastwood." Hardaker is the Rhinos' second signing of the autumn following Ben Cross, an experienced Australian prop who has joined them from the Newcastle Knights on a two-year contract. Gareth Thomas will make his first appearance in south Wales since his switch of codes six months ago when he wins his third international rugby league cap in a crucial European Cup game against Ireland in Neath on Sunday. The former Wales and British Lions rugby union captain has scored tries in each of his first two appearances, in a 13-6 defeat by Italy in Wrexham followed by a 60-22 win against Scotland in Glasgow last weekend in the first round of the European Cup. France, who beat Ireland 58-24 in their opening game in Avignon, face Scotland in Albi on Saturday, with their coach, Bobbie Goulding, resting his most damaging forward Jamal Fakir to ensure his fitness for another home game against Wales on Saturday week which will almost certainly decide which of the teams qualify for next autumn's Four Nations series against England, New Zealand and Australia.