Dwain Chambers is set to get his first taste of rugby league on Sunday week after Castleford were given permission to play a friendly reserve game against York.

The 30-year-old sprinter, who is in the third week of a month's trial with Super League's bottom club, will get the chance to show his paces in a specially-arranged match at The Jungle.

Tigers coach Terry Matterson decided a Super League outing would be "dangerous" for the controversial athlete, who has never played either code of rugby in his life, but admits he needs to see him in action before deciding whether or not to offer him a contract.

"We asked permission from the League to play a reserve grade friendly with a view to Dwain being able to play," said Castleford spokesman David Smart.

"It is subject to his ongoing development. Dwain is progressing well in training and the coaching staff will continue to monitor progress before making a final decision."

Castleford would need permission from the Rugby Football League's performance department to play Chambers in a Super League match but spokesman Craig Spence admitted: "He is free to play in the reserve grade or academy."

Chambers, who was banned from athletics for two years after testing positive in 2003 for the steroid THG, has in the past tried his hand at American Football.

He has yet to announce whether he will seek to overturn a ban preventing him from running in the Beijing Olympics.

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