Noble led Great Britain in last year's Tri-Nations series

It means the part-time contracts of current coach Brian Noble and his assistants Jon Sharp and Dave Lyon have not been renewed.

Noble's three-year contract expired on 31 December but he would be unable to do the job full-time because of his commitments as coach of Wigan.

The RFL says it has started the search for Noble's successor.

"Following our thorough review, the RFL believes the Great Britain position requires a coach's full-time focus," said RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis.

"We believe that only a full-time coach will have the proper opportunity to positively influence plans for the Rugby League World Cup in 2008, the Tri-Nations in 2009 and further into the future."

606 DEBATE: Who should be Noble's successor?

"We would like to thank Brian Noble for his tremendously valuable contribution to the Great Britain side over the past six years during which he has worked within the Great Britain set up as both a head coach and an assistant.

"He has played a major role in the successes experienced by the Lions in that time and his personal passion for the job has always been an outstanding feature of his tenure.

"The implementation of a full-time Great Britain position creates what we believe to be the most exciting opportunity in Rugby League coaching."