Winning return to action for White

Former Scotland captain Jason White made a successful return to competitive action when he helped Clermont Auvergne to a convincing 26-8 win over his former club Sale Sharks in the Tournoi Issoire in France yesterday.

The 34-year-old had been absent since last December after suffering a double leg break in training. He returned for pre-season training three weeks before his colleagues and his progress convinced coach Vern Cotter to name White in Clermont's starting line up.

Sione Lauaki, Brock James and Kini Murimurivalu had tries for Clermont, with James adding two penalties and a conversion, while Benoit Baby landed a drop goal. Sale's points came from a Sisa Koyamaibole try and a penalty by Matty James.

The match was the first in charge of Sale for Mike Brewer, the former Scotland assistant coach.

The injury forced White to miss the run in to Clermont's first ever French title last season but he is set to be involved in Friday night's reprise of the championship final when they meet Perpignan in the opening match of the new campaign.

Former Wales boss and Super League coach of the year Neil Kelly is to make a second switch of codes after agreeing to join the backroom staff of Doncaster Knights.

Kelly, a former player with Dewsbury and Wakefield, coached Widnes and Dewsbury before joining Magners League side Ulster as defence coach and returned to the 13-man game as director of rugby at Leigh two years ago.