SAINTS' half-back Sean Long has had to cancel an eagerly-awaited holiday at the last minute - and he couldn't be happier!

The former Widnes and Wigan player was packing for a fortnight's stay in Gran Canaria when the call came on Monday from Great Britain coaches Andy Goodway and Shaun McRae to join the 22-man squad for the forthcoming Test series against Australia.

So, instead of heading for the sunshine of the Canaries, Wigan-based Sean gladly settled for the somewhat chillier climes of the training camp at Rochdale, and with it the chance to win his first Test cap.

Long's selection is a dream come true for the 21-year-old who, frustrated by the lack of first-team opportunities at Central Park, moved to Widnes last season before being snapped up by Saints for £80,000.

Since then the man who battled back from major knee surgery has proved a big favourite at Knowsley Road with his all-action displays.

Long's elevation brings Saints' representation to a record seven for a Test series in this country, with Anthony Sullivan, Paul Newlove, Chris Joynt, Bobbie Goulding, Keiron Cunningham and Alan Hunte in the original squad.

However, Saints did provide eight of the party for last winter's tour of the South Pacific in Joey Hayes, Steve Prescott, Karle Hammond, Cunningham, Sullivan, Joynt, Hunte and Goulding.

Saints will continue to field an Alliance team next season, even though four Super League clubs have withdrawn from the competition. Said chief executive David Howes: "We considered the matter with coach Shaun McRae and decided to preserve the status quo. Saints will have a 25-man squad next season, and we are happy that the existing Academy and Alliance nursery will continue to service this, as it has done in the case of Jason Johnson, Alan Cross and Scott Barrow."

With Oldham Bears now in liquidation Saints have signed Widnes-based Cumbrian forward Paul Davidson as a free agent.

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