Plans to boost England team

England were swamped by New Zealand in the semi

The Super League is preparing plans to ensure that England become more of a force on the world stage, following their failure to make an impact in the World Cup.

Plans are being formulated for England or Great Britain to take on a Rest of the World team in Test trials ahead of next year's visit of world champions Australia.

Super League clubs are set to throw their weight behind a scheme to provide high-class preparation for the resumed Ashes Series.

Australia retained their crown and made it six World Cup wins in a row with a highly impressive 40-12 demolition of New Zealand in a compelling final at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Australia are the team to which everyone else must aspire

Two tries in a devastating three-minute spell from Brisbane Broncos winger Wendell Sailor ended the gallant Kiwis' bid to halt the Kangaroos' 25-year domination as Brad Fittler became the first man to win three successive World Cup winners' medals.

Despite a brief flurry from Wales in their gripping semi-final with the Kangaroos, the tournament represented a major disappointment for the home nations and precipitated more soul-searching.

Super League chairman Chris Caisley has already dismissed the idea of a home nations championship, like in rugby union, but held out an olive branch to internationalists by proposing talks on restoring the Test trials.

He said: "We will shortly be entering into discussions with relevant parties to consider the best type of representative games which might be played to aid the Great Britain team in their build-up to the Ashes series."

Rugby Football League chairman Sir Rodney Walker would like to see a contest against an overseas XIII comprising players of the calibre of established Test stars Richie Barnett, Brett Mullins, Matthew Johns and the Paul brothers, who will all be playing in Super League VI.

Stronger opposition

"There is an opportunity, with a lot of top quality Australians and New Zealanders playing in the UK in 2001, to contemplate an England or Great Britain versus the Rest of the World fixture," said Sir Rodney. "That is under discussion at the present time.

"I think Chris (Caisley) recognises that for Great Britain to improve, our players have got to play more games with a higher level of intensity.

"He clearly wants to protect his Super League competition and I understand that, but I know he wants the England and Great Britain side to do better too."

Any trial matches would have to be staged midweek, with Super League fixtures being played every weekend from 2 March to 16 September.