Griff

He played in the 1989 Second Division Premiership Final for us. I saw him only two or three months ago - no hint then of what might happen.

Sheffield Eagles have a number of tickets available in Block 509 at Wembley for the Challenge Cup Final. These are in the Warrington ‘end’ of Wembley and are category 5 tickets. These are priced at just £25 for Adults and £20 for Concessions, a saving of £10 and £5 respectively. You can buy these online here: http://sheffieldeaglesshop.co.uk/tickets/2016-challenge-cup-final.html with first class postage just £1. Best of luck in the Final from everyone at the Eagles!

Still - it's all been great publicity, hasn't it ?

There's a few got to the last 16 - Egremont spring to mind for some reason - don't think anyone's got further. Twelve Apostles might have done better with a full team.

That's a fair point and I'm sure the exemptions will be in place for properly structured charities. Are you aware of any examples of charitable Testimonials outside major soccer clubs ?

There are a few effects. Firstly, you won't need RFL approval to have a Testimonial. Anyone can have one. I can have one. You can have one. Secondly, the consequence of that is that the Testimonial might lose its cachet and Testimonials in general might make less money. Thirdly, the player doesn't need a Testimonial Committee. He can run it himself.

I'm not a Fev supporter, pal. Though they are my local club and I have a lot of friends there.

I must have misunderstood the bit where you said "get them on loan .... [and] you have to pay for them. Nor are they necessarily free gratis on DR. They may be, they may not be. It's up to the clubs to agree.

Fev ? I've no recent information, I'm afraid.

No, that's not so. The "receiving" club has to pay whatever's agreed. Could be more, could be less. Furthermore, it's not paid to the player through the PAYE system, it's paid to the club holding his original registration, + VAT. It's a bit like hiring a plumber. You don't pay the plumber a wage, you pay his employers.

Ryan Giggs has just announced getting £1m from his third Testimonial game. In all fairness, taxi drivers and catering workers don't get a big wedge but they get taxed on the tips they get. Well, in theory, anyway.

Has he ever played soccer ? The game's so well covered on video these days that "simulation" has become a two-edged sword.

How's George Flanagan's nose ?

Buried in last week's Budget was a statement that HMRC was inviting submissions on the withdrawal of the special tax treatment for the sporting testimonial. Does this mean the end of the traditional Testimonial season - or will they continue ?

10 apiece. Anyone able to confirm that Brown had already scored before Sam Scott touched down?