The 2002 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France was a tour by the New Zealand national rugby league team. The New Zealand national rugby league team drew the series 1.5-1.5 against Great Britain and also defeated Wales and France.

Background This was the Kiwis first tour of Great Britain since the 2000 World Cup, the Kangaroos having toured Great Britain the previous year.

The original squad named in September included Nathan Cayless, Craig Smith and Tevita Vaikona who all later had to withdraw from the final squad.In-form Smith wins Kiwi call-up BBC Sport, 21 September 2002NZ player profiles BBC Sport, 21 October 2002

Before the tour started the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark, held an official reception for the team at the Beehive. It was the first New Zealand rugby league tour to receive an official farewell from a Prime Minister in Parliament.

The tour was opened against Hull F.C. at The Boulevard, the same ground had hosted the first Test matched played by the 1907 New Zealand team. This match was the last international played at the ground, while the 1907 team had played in the first.New Zealand Rugby League Annual 2002, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 2002. p.35

Motu Tony broke his hand in the match against England A and was ruled out of the rest of the tour. Steve Clark refereed all three Test matches against Great Britain.

Former Kiwis player Sean Hoppe, who had not represented his country since 1999, was given the honour of captaining St Helens R.F.C. in a tour match against the Kiwis.Hoppe's last stand; Sean's set to skipper St Helens The Daily Post, 25 October 2002SAINTS STARS' LAST GOODBYE One hell of a bargain for Blues; Knowsley Road favourites bow out against Kiwis Liverpool Echo, 25 October 2002 The match was meant to be his last before retirement however he was later called into the touring squad due to injuries and his final two matches were test matches against Great Britain and France. Hoppe was called up over Lesley Vainikolo who was also considered as a replacement after injuries to several backs including Motu Tony and Clinton Toopi.Freeman eyes Vainikolo to replace injured Tony New Zealand Herald, 1 November 2002

In the end Great Britain tied the series, taking the inaugural Baskerville Shield as hosts.Lions edge Kiwis in thriller BBC Sport, 23 November 2002 The third test match was Great Britain's first win over New Zealand since 1993.

Squad Kiwis captain Nathan Cayless withdrew due to suspension and was replaced by Andrew Lomu while Willie Talau required surgery and was unavailable. After the Australia Test both Lomu and Matt Utai were withdrawn by their clubs for off-season surgery. On arriving in England, English based players Craig Smith and Tevita Vaikona were ruled out due to injury.New Zealand Rugby League Annual 2002, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 2002. p.34 Later Motu Tony and Robbie Paul were sidelined with injuries and in France Richard Swain left to sign a deal with the Broncos and Stephen Kearney flew home due to a family illness.

Clinton Toopi broke his hand in a scuffle with Nigel Vagana during a team drinking session after the second test. Freeman and team management initially tried to cover up the incident, claiming the injury occurred during the match, before media found out and had a field day. Name Club Australia Wales GB GB GB France Games Tries Goals FGs Points New Zealand Warriors BE BE BE LK 4 0 0 0 0 Sydney Roosters PR 1 0 0 0 0 New Zealand Warriors WG WG WG WG WG WG 6 3 0 0 12 New Zealand Warriors BE SR LK LK SR BE 6 0 0 0 0 New Zealand Warriors FE FE FE FE FE FE 6 1 7 0 18 St Helens R.F.C. WG CE 2 0 0 0 0 (c) New Zealand Warriors HB HB HB HB HB HB 6 6 1 0 26 Melbourne Storm LK LK SR SR 4 1 0 0 4 New Zealand Warriors SR SR SR BE BE SR 6 1 0 0 4 Sydney Roosters BE 1 0 0 0 0 New Zealand Warriors WG WG WG CE WG 5 4 0 0 16 Bradford Bulls FB FB FB HK 4 1 0 0 4 Penrith Panthers BE BE BE BE 4 0 0 0 0 Bulldogs RLFC PR PR PR PR PR PR 6 0 0 0 0 New Zealand Warriors PR PR PR PR PR BE 6 1 0 0 4 Castleford Tigers SR 1 0 0 0 0 Parramatta Eels BE BE BE BE BE 5 0 0 0 0 Melbourne Storm HK HK HK HK HK 5 2 14 0 36 New Zealand Warriors BE BE BE BE BE 5 2 0 0 8 New Zealand Warriors BE 1 0 0 0 0 New Zealand Warriors CE CE CE 3 1 0 0 4 Bulldogs RLFC WG 1 1 0 0 4 Parramatta Eels FB FB FB 3 1 0 0 4 Bulldogs RLFC CE CE CE CE CE CE 6 4 0 0 16 Canberra Raiders SR CE SR SR LK 5 1 0 0 4 Coach: Gary Freeman

Fixtures The New Zealand side played five test matches while on their European tour and one test in New Zealand before leaving.

New Zealand vs Australia

FB 1 David VaealikiLW 2 Henry Fa'afiliRC 3 Nigel VaganaLC 4 Clinton ToopiRW 5 Matt UtaiFE 6 Lance HohaiaHB 7 Stacey Jones (c)PR 8 Jerry SeuseuHK 9 Richard SwainPR 10 Paul RauhihiSR 11 Ali Lauiti'itiSR 12 Ruben WikiLK 13 Stephen KearneySubstitutions:IC 14 Motu TonyIC 15 Andrew LomuIC 16 Awen GuttenbeilIC 17 David SolomonaCoach: Gary Freeman FB 1 Darren LockyerLW 2 Timana TahuRC 3 Matthew GidleyLC 4 Brent TateRW 5 Hazem El MasriFE 6 Trent BarrettHB 7 Brett KimmorleyPR 8 Shane WebckeHK 9 Danny BuderusPR 10 Jason StevensSR 11 Gorden Tallis (c)SR 12 Ben KennedyLF 13 Scott HillSubstitutions:IC 14 Craig WingIC 15 Craig FitzgibbonIC 16 Steve MenziesIC 17 Willie MasonCoach: Chris Anderson

British leg

Hull: Steve Prescott, Paul Parker, Richard Horne, Graham Mackay, Matt Crowther, Jason Smith (c), Tony Smith, Craig Greenhill, Lee Jackson, Scott Logan, Adam Maher, Sean Ryan, Chris Chester. Res: Craig Poucher, Paul Cooke, Richard Fletcher, Paul King. Coach: Shaun McRae

New Zealand: David Vaealiki, Francis Meli, Nigel Vagana, Clinton Toopi, Henry Fa'afili, Motu Tony, Lance Hohaia, Jason Cayless, Monty Betham, Paul Rauhihi, Tony Puletua, Ruben Wiki, Logan Swann. Res: Michael Smith, Richard Swain, Awen Guttenbeil, Stephen Kearney

Wales vs New Zealand

FB 1 Damian GibsonRW 2 Hefin O'HareRC 3 Kris TassellLC 4 Adam HughesLW 5 Chris SmithSO 6 Lee Briers (c)SH 7 Mark LennonPR 8 Keith MasonHK 9 Ian WatsonPR 10 Dave WhittleSR 11 Justin MorganSR 12 David MillsLK 13 Paul HightonSubstitutions:IC 14 Paul AtchesonIC 15 Gareth DeanIC 16 Gareth PriceIC 17 Rob RobertsCoach: Neil Kelly FB 1 Robbie PaulLW 2 Henry Fa'afiliRC 3 Nigel VaganaLC 4 Ruben WikiRW 5 Francis MeliFE 6 Lance HohaiaHB 7 Stacey Jones (c)PR 8 Jerry SeuseuHK 9 Richard SwainPR 10 Paul RauhihiSR 11 Ali Lauiti'itiSR 12 Awen GuttenbeilLK 13 Stephen KearneySubstitutions:IC 14 Monty BethamIC 15 David SolomonaIC 16 Logan SwannIC 17 Tony PuletuaCoach: Gary Freeman

Baskerville Shield After 30 New Zealand vs England / Great Britain test series since 1907, the Baskerville Shield was inaugurated for series between New Zealand and England / Great Britain. The shield is named in honour of Albert Henry Baskerville who organised New Zealand's first ever tour of Great Britain in 1907.

Venues The three Baskerville Shield tests took place at the following venues.

Blackburn Huddersfield Wigan Ewood Park McAlpine Stadium JJB Stadium Capacity: 31,000 Capacity: 24,500 Capacity: 25,133

1st Test

FB 1 Gary ConnollyRW 2 Leon PryceRC 3 Martin GleesonLC 4 Keith SeniorLW 5 Karl PrattSO 6 Kevin SinfieldSH 7 Paul DeaconPR 8 Stuart FieldenHK 9 Keiron CunninghamPR 10 Barrie McDermottSR 11 Andy Farrell (c)SR 12 Adrian MorleyLK 13 Mike ForshawSubstitutions:IC 14 Lee GilmourIC 15 Chris JoyntIC 16 Paul AndersonIC 17 Jamie PeacockCoach: David Waite FB 1 Robbie PaulLW 2 Henry Fa'afiliRC 3 Nigel VaganaLC 4 Clinton ToopiRW 5 Francis MeliFE 6 Lance HohaiaHB 7 Stacey Jones (c)PR 8 Jerry SeuseuHK 9 Richard SwainPR 10 Paul RauhihiSR 11 Ali Lauiti'itiSR 12 Stephen KearneyLK 13 Awen GuttenbeilSubstitutions:IC 14 Monty BethamIC 15 David SolomonaIC 16 Logan SwannIC 17 Tony PuletuaCoach: Gary Freeman

Henry Fa'afili scored three tries in the 30–16 first test win over Great Britain at Ewood Park, the first Kiwis hat-trick against the Lions in 97 matches dating back to 1907. His tries all came in the second half as the Kiwis rallied from a 10–6 halftime deficit to win comfortably.

2nd Test

FB 1 Gary ConnollyRW 2 Lee GilmourRC 3 Martin GleesonLC 4 Keith SeniorLW 5 Leon PryceSO 6 Paul SculthorpeSH 7 Paul DeaconPR 8 Terry O'ConnorHK 9 James LowesPR 10 Stuart FieldenSR 11 Jamie PeacockSR 12 Andy Farrell (c)LK 13 Mike ForshawSubstitutions:IC 14 Kevin SinfieldIC 15 Richard HorneIC 16 Paul AndersonIC 17 Danny OrrCoach: David Waite FB 1 Robbie PaulLW 2 Henry Fa'afiliRC 3 Nigel VaganaLC 4 Clinton ToopiRW 5 Francis MeliFE 6 Lance HohaiaHB 7 Stacey Jones (c)PR 8 Jerry SeuseuHK 9 Richard SwainPR 10 Paul RauhihiSR 11 Ruben WikiSR 12 Stephen KearneyLK 13 Awen GuttenbeilSubstitutions:IC 14 Tony PuletuaIC 15 Ali Lauiti'itiIC 16 Monty BethamIC 17 Logan SwannCoach: Gary Freeman

3rd Test

FB 1 Gary ConnollyRW 2 Leon PryceRC 3 Martin GleesonLC 4 Keith SeniorLW 5 Lee GilmourSO 6 Paul SculthorpeSH 7 Paul DeaconPR 8 Stuart FieldenHK 9 James LowesPR 10 Barrie McDermottSR 11 Adrian MorleySR 12 Andy Farrell (c)LK 13 Mike ForshawSubstitutions:IC 14 Danny OrrIC 15 Jamie PeacockIC 16 Paul AndersonIC 17 Richard HorneCoach: David Waite FB 1 David VaealikiLW 2 Henry Fa'afiliRC 3 Nigel VaganaLC 4 Sean HoppeRW 5 Francis MeliFE 6 Lance HohaiaHB 7 Stacey Jones (c)PR 8 Jerry SeuseuHK 9 Richard SwainPR 10 Paul RauhihiSR 11 Ruben WikiSR 12 Awen GuttenbeilLK 13 Monty BethamSubstitutions:IC 14 Tony PuletuaIC 15 David SolomonaIC 16 Ali Lauiti'itiIC 17 Logan SwannCoach: Gary Freeman

France vs New Zealand

FB 1 Michael Van SnickRW 2 Renaud GuigueRC 3 Claude SirventLC 4 Arnaud DulacLW 5 Fourcade AbasseSO 6 Laurent FrayssinousSH 7 Julien RinaldiPR 8 Jérôme GuissetHK 9 David BerthezènePR 10 Romain GagliazzoSR 11 Pascal Jampy (c)SR 12 Sébastien RaguinLK 13 Laurent CarrascoSubstitutions:IC 14 Olivier PramilIC 15 Jamal FakirIC 16 Jean-Christophe BorlinIC 17 Julien GerinCoach: Gilles Dumas FB 1 David VaealikiLW 2 Henry Fa'afiliRC 3 Nigel VaganaLC 4 Sean HoppeRW 5 Francis MeliFE 6 Lance HohaiaHB 7 Stacey Jones (c)PR 8 Jason CaylessHK 9 Richard SwainPR 10 Paul RauhihiSR 11 Ali Lauiti'itiSR 12 Michael SmithLK 13 Ruben WikiSubstitutions:IC 14 Awen GuttenbeilIC 15 David SolomonaIC 16 Jerry SeuseuIC 17 Logan SwannCoach: Gary Freeman

Aftermath New Zealand halfback Stacey Jones won the George Smith Medal as player of the series against Great Britain. The tour was Freeman's last as head coach. In 2003 Daniel Anderson was named as the new Kiwis coach.

References