Harris set to crack the code

Wales plan to provide Iestyn Harris with a mentor eminently qualified at smoothing his proposed £1million passage across the rugby Rubicon from league to union.

As Great Britain's coveted full back- cum- stand off prepares to follow the trail blazed by Jason Robinson, his prospective Welsh employers have earmarked Jonathan Davies to assist Harris' code conversion after his expected arrival at the end of the Super League season in October.

Harris is understood to have finalised a four-year deal with Cardiff and Wales worth £250,000 a year. Leeds, whose contract with the player runs for another two seasons, want £1m for his release. Wales believe they can get him for £500,000, some way short of the record £750,000 that Newcastle paid Wigan for Va'aiga Tuigamala four years ago.

Wales coach Graham Henry has asked for Harris to be available for his union debut in November and the provision of Davies as a personal consultant-cum-confidant would ensure that Wales get the best possible return from their investment in a 24-year-old who has already rejected an approach to throw his lot in with England.

Harris, born in Oldham to Welsh parents, said: 'If I do make the switch, then I would welcome the chance to work with someone like Jonathan. I played with him in the same team at Warrington when I was starting and he was finishing and we've become good friends over the years.

'England showed a lot of interest but I'm Welsh and I want to play for Wales.'

Davies, captain of Wales when he left the then amateur code 13 years ago to embark on a successful league career at Widnes and Warrington before rejoining union nine years later, could play an influential role in helping Harris achieve his ambition of representing Wales at the next World Cup in Australia in October 2003.

Wales see Harris as a solution to their full back problem and the goalkicking successor to Neil Jenkins, whose retirement from the international stage is imminent. Davies believes Harris will make a bigger impact as an inside centre.

Davies said: 'Once Iestyn comes

over, I would love to help him make the most of his new career. He is an exceptional talent and there is no doubt that he will give the game in Wales a huge boost by putting a lot of bums on a lot of seats.