Hull FC were giving little away today about their rumoured interest in signing 22-year-old Bulls centre Shontayne Hape.

"It is a mystery to me," said Hull's chief executive David Plummer about the possibility of his club signing the New Zealander, whose contract at Odsal runs out at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Bulls coach Brian Noble said: "It is that time of year when there is a lot spoken about who is going where and who is doing what to whom.

"But there is a lot of water to go under the bridge before anyone makes decisions."

Hape, 6ft and 15st 3lb, who has also been linked to NRL clubs and other Super League sides, joined the Bulls at the start of last season from New Zealand Warriors.

The former Junior Kiwi missed only one of the Bulls' 35 games, scoring 15 tries, and this season he has already bagged 11 tries.

Hull have one of their three overseas quota places up for grabs in 2005. Two will be filled by former Brisbane Broncos hooker Richard Swain - who signed an extension to his contract last week to keep him at the KC Stadium for 2006 - and New Zealand back-rower Stephen Kearney, who signed last week from Melbourne Storm.

But winger Colin Best is returning to his native Australia to play for St George Illawarra Dragons, and Richie Barnett senior will retire at the end of the season after a recurrence of post vital fatigue syndrome.

l Bulls trio Matthew Cook, Brett Ferres and Karl Pryce have been named in the England Academy Under-18 squad that leaves for a four-match tour of Australia and New Zealand on Monday.

The schedule includes two matches against the Junior Kiwis and one against the Australian Schoolboys.