Robbie Paul, captain of Super League leaders Bradford Bulls, today tipped older brother Henry to become an instant success in rugby union.

And the 25-year-old New Zealand international does not rule out one day making a cross-code switch of his own.

Henry Paul, who is eligible to play for England through an English grandfather, has agreed a four-year deal with Gloucester, part-funded by the RFU, thought to be worth £200,000 a year.

The Zurich Premiership club are expected to unveil the player at a Press conference early next week and will have his services from mid October.

The goalkicking stand-off will follow in the footsteps of his former Wigan team-mate Jason Robinson, with whom he enjoyed a brief spell at Bath in 1996, but, as a playmaker, he is expected to take longer to adjust to the 15-man game.

However, Robbie expects his brother to make the grade. He said: ``I've no worries about him being successful in anything that he does. When he made the change over to rugby union back in 1996 he found it quite enjoyable. As long as he's enjoying it and it's a challenge for him, then he'll do well at it.

``I know that he will succeed in any endeavour that he puts his mind to. I know the type of person he is. He'll just pound it into submission, whatever it is he takes up, whether it be rugby union, American football as a goalkicker or Greco-Roman wrestling. He has that type of mentality.''

Henry Paul won his 23rd cap for New Zealand in last week's Trans Tasman Test against Australia in Wellington but his next international outing could be in the white of England.

Clive Woodward has been an admirer of the gifted Kiwi for some time and, following the remarkable success of Robinson, will be closely monitoring Paul's progress in next season's Zurich Premiership.

``That would be interesting,'' said Robbie. ``If it's proposed, he'll make the decision himself. He's eligible. I don't know if we've ever seen a player who has made the transfer from two different codes into two different jumpers at international level.''

Robbie had an enjoyable stint with Harlequins while Henry was playing for Bath five years ago and he admits that he, too, could be tempted to make the switch when his Bradford contract runs out at the end of the 2003 season.

``I've always said that, when it comes to making my decision at contract time, I would take everything into account,'' he said. ``I would never say a definite no because, when I get to the back end of my contract, I might be offered an opportunity I just can't say no to.

``Back in 1996 when I played for the Harlequins, I used the opportunity to see whether or not I could play the sport and I enjoyed myself there and I know the club and coaching staff wanted me to stay.

``But my heart was in rugby league and I still had a lot of things to fulfil. My achievements in rugby league have yet to be fulfilled but you never know, one day!''