LLANELLI, boosted by a £3 million cash injection from two benefactors, are attempting to lure Vaaiga Tuigamala and Scott Gibbs away from rugby league.

The club's members last week overwhelmingly accepted a proposal for Llanelli to become a public limited company and the Scarlets have already signed the Welsh international forwards Andrew Gibbs, Steve Ford and Mike Voyle.

They are now bidding for Wigan's New Zealand back Tuigamala and the former Wales and Lions centre Gibbs. However, Gibbs's former club, Swansea, is also attempting to put a package together, even though they said he would never be welcome at the club again when he signed for St Helen's two years ago.

Richmond have baulked at St Helen's asking price for Gibbs the club wants £200,000 while Cardiff, who have also expressed an interest in the 25 year old, are well stocked with international centres.

Tuigamala has been linked with Bath in a deal which would see him play both codes, tin ion in winter and league for Wigan in the summer, but Llanelli want to sign him full time.

The asking price could be around £400,000 and Llanelli have also been looking at signing Warrington's Welsh international stand off Iestyn Harris, though his future could lie with South. Wales RLFC who were last week fast tracked into next year's Super League.

South Wales want to recruit four leading league players and are prepared to share players with union clubs in Wales. If Llanelli are to sign Harris, who could become league's first £1 million player, they will probably have to reach an agreement with South Wales.

Llanelli's cash injection has been brokered by a Japanese bank which has contacts with New Zealand players and the All Black reserve back row forward, Blair Larsen, could be on his way to Stradey Park next season.

. David Young, the Wales Rugby League captain, has been offered a £30,000 international squad contract by the Welsh Rugby Union, making him the first player returning from the 13 a side game to be given such a deal.