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| Friday, 26 July, 2002, 11:47 GMT 12:47 UK International game remains priority ![]() Great Britain were overrun by Australia last month British rugby league chief Richard Lewis has pledged his support for the international game, despite Great Britain's humiliating defeat in the one-off Test in Sydney. Lewis, the newly-appointed RFL executive chairman, has just completed a series of talks with the major rugby league playing nations in a bid to revamp international competition.
The former Davis Cup tennis player, who met with French officials last month, flew from Sydney following Great Britain's record 64-10 defeat by Australia for talks with New Zealand officials. "International rugby league is a huge priority and the feedback I've had since the match has been very encouraging," he said. "It was good to find so much common ground - Australia, New Zealand and ourselves all want more international rugby. The Australian trip went very well apart from the 80 minutes." However, Lewis accepts that next year's scheduled one-off Test in New Zealand is almost certain to be scrapped in the wake of the Sydney humiliation, although he is yet to meet with under-fire GB coach David Waite. "David had major reservations about flying down there for a one-off match," said Lewis. "Yet, in a funny kind of way, it still achieved its purpose by reinforcing to people behind the scenes that there is a future for Test match rugby. "The Test in New Zealand next July is officially still on but New Zealand don't expect us to play a one-off match. "We need to talk with the Super League clubs about whether or not we should try to put in place a better build-up period or maybe, if it's a one-off, we shouldn't do it. "I haven't had a detailed discussion with David yet but I'm against just one Test match." |
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