Blacklock set to return to League
today

Kangaroo and Waratahs winger, Nathan Blacklock is set to return to Rugby League this week and may be released from his Rugby Union contract as early as this afternoon.

The Penrith Emus have named Blacklock in their side for this Saturday's Rugby Union fixture but it's understood that he will be joining the St George Illawarra Dragons before the weekend.

Following a number of professional and personal issues, the record breaking winger was granted a release from St George in June 2002. The NSWRU signed him up soon after.

Blacklock played Rugby Union with Southern Districts, Penrith and the Waratahs before seeking a release last month.

Between 1997-2002, Nathan Blacklock scored 99 tries in 112 games with the Dragons. He was the leading try scorer in the 1999, 2000 and 2001 NRL premiership seasons.

He is only player to ever score 20 or more tries in four consecutive seasons. For the Dragons, he holds the current club record of 27 tries in one season (2001), surpassing Tom Ryan's record set in 1957.

Blacklock was selected to play for Australia in 2001 touring Papua New Guinea and the UK and played two Rugby League Tests.

If released from Rugby Union, it's likely that Blacklock will be playing with the Dragons' Premier League side when they take on the Bulldogs this Saturday at WIN Stadium.