DARLINGTON Mowden Park have re-signed hooker Tasi Tuhana from Blaydon, who look set to lose several players because of financial problems.

Andy Foreman, who has made several appearances on the wing despite scoring 20 tries at scrum half last season, is going back to Hartlepool, where he joins his brothers Brian and Gareth.

Blaydon asked their players to take a six-week pay break, with Director of Rugby Andy Howells saying: "We have hit the wall. We will restructure for next season and come back stronger."

But Howells, who has been with the club for six years, added that he would be considering his own options at the end of the season.

Meanwhile he has signed a South African with a Dutch passport in centre Rian Hockedouma, who will be in the squad for tomorrow's match at home to Bedford Athletic.

It's a game Blaydon must win to stay out of relegation danger, indicating how fortunes have changed since they lost at home to Mowden three weeks ago.

Mowden were then fifth from the bottom, but will go fifth top tomorrow if they win at home to Broadstreet and Tynedale lose at Preston Grasshoppers.

Tuhana is not expected to feature in the squad, although he could be on the bench if Danny Brown fails a fitness test on his shoulder.

Newcastle Falcons have re-signed flanker Craig Newby after his brief loan to Mowden and he is in their squad for tomorrow's Premiership match away to Wasps.

West Hartlepool president Ron Greig has paid tribute to John Stabler, who is stepping down as coach at the end of the season to concentrate on his career in the police.

Greig said: "There is no doubt he has kept this club alive. When he took over when we dropped into division one we had no players and no ground to call our own.

"Through his sheer personality and hard work he has seen us through three difficult years when we could easily have folded."

Stabler will continue to be involved and is helping former coach Dave Stubbs to search for a successor.

Meanwhile Stabler is to coach the Durham side in the National County Sevens, in which they will compete against the other five northern counties at Wilmslow on Sunday, May 18. The winners will go through to the semi-finals a week later at Twickenham.

Another former West Hartlepool stalwart, Middlesbrough coach John Dixon, has decided to start for the first time for weeks in the home match against Redcar.

He has been on the bench for most of the season but this time he will leave Dave Hinchley to come on once he runs out of steam.

Craig Chapman returns at loose head in place of Chris Horton, who is working.

Stockton visit Goole and have Pedro Salahshouri back on the wing in place of Stuart Brown.

Nicki Walters continues at fly half and it is hoped Nicky Poole will be available to partner him. Peter Armstrong stands by.

* Japan High Schools have cancelled their tour of England because of the threat of war in Iraq.

They were to have played North Schools at Hartlepool Rovers on March 18 and England Schools 18 group in a curtain-raiser for the Calcutta Cup match.