RUGBY LEAGUE
Now that the Rugby Union World Cup has finished, it's time for teams in Rugby League, the other type of rugby, to prepare for the Rugby League World Cup in 2008.
And Britain did that in style after thrashing New Zealand at the KC Stadium last night to win the 3-game Series.
New Zealand - the No2 ranked side in the world after World Champions Australia - suffered their biggest ever defeat, in Britain, by their former colonial masters.
And it was one of Great Britain's best performances ever.
GREAT BRITAIN 44-0 NEW ZEALAND (at the KC Stadium, Hull, East Yorkshire)
Great Britain: Paul Wellens (St Helens); Ade Gardner (St Helens), Keith Senior (Leeds), Martin Gleeson (Warrington), Gareth Raynor (Hull); Leon Pryce (St Helens), Rob Burrow (Leeds), Adrian Morley (Warrington), Jon Clarke (Warrington), Jamie Peacock (Leeds, capt), Gareth Ellis (Leeds), Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds)
Replacements: Maurie Fa'asavalu (St Helens), James Graham (St Helens), Sam Burgess (Bradford), Danny McGuire (Leeds).
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New Zealand: Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters); Shontayne Hape (Bradford), Clinton Toopi (Leeds), Paul Whatuira (Huddersfield), Taniela Tuiaki (Wests Tigers); Lance Hohaia (NZ Warriors), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan); Roy Asotasi (South Sydney, capt), Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers), Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta), Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors), Frank Pritchard (Penrith), Jeremy Smith (Melbourne).
Replacements: Greg Eastwood (Brisbane), Louis Anderson (Warrington), Sam Rapira (NZ Warriors), David Faiumu (North Queensland).
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Referee: Tony Archer (Australia).
Great Britain clinched their first series victory in 14 years with an eight-try rout against New Zealand - the team ranked second in the world.
Jamie Peacock opened the scoring on two minutes and Leon Pryce doubled the lead 10 minutes later, with Gareth Raynor adding a third just before half-time.
Paul Wellens extended the lead after the break before Ade Gardner scored Great Britain's fifth on 56 minutes.
Leeds duo Rob Burrow and Keith Senior added further scores before Pryce ran in a 70-metre try on 77 minutes.
The home side produced one of their most emphatic international displays as coach Tony Smith brought an end to Great Britain's 14-year wait for international success.
Britain's last series win had come back in 1993 when they had beaten New Zealand 3-0.
Inevitably it was man-of-the-match Peacock who lead from the front with a 20,324-strong crowd watching on at the KC Stadium.
The Great Britain captain smashed his way through five tacklers before touching down after just two minutes.
Kevin Sinfield, who missed the first Test with a stomach bug, kicked over the extras.
Great Britain soon doubled their lead on 14 minutes when Pryce scored his first international try for five years, skipping past a static Sam Perrett, although referee Tony Archer needed the video referee's assitance to ensure the St Helens stand-off had grounded the ball properly.
Britain's punishing runs from first receiver had their desired effect as New Zealand's powerful forwards began to tire as their workloads increased.
The home side should have scored a third three minutes before the interval when a handling error from Clinton Toopi presented Raynor the simplest of chances, but the Hull winger somehow managed to spill the ball diving over the line.
But he made no mistake two minutes later, grounding a sweeping backs passing move created by a powerful run from prop Sam Burgess.
New Zealand attempted to surge forward after the interval in search for an early score, but were continually repelled by Great Britain's outstanding defence.
Britain's Sam Burgess leaves several New Zealand players in his wake
And the fourth try came in the 49th minute when Wellens grounded Pryce's hanging high ball inside the Kiwi's in-goal area, courtesy of a deft knock-back by centre Senior.
With Sinfield off the pitch, Burrow added the two points with Great Britain cruising to an emphatic victory.
The fifth try came courtesy of Sean O'Laughlin's enterprise, stealing the ball off full-back Perrett in a one-on-one tackle, feeding Burrow to pave the way for Gardner's second international try in the corner on 56 minutes.
Taniela Tuiaki looked certain to score New Zealand's first points of the night when he swept aside Gardner's tackle, only to receive a ferocious hit from full-back Wellens that forced the Wests Tigers winger to lose the ball from his grasp.
But Great Britain saved their best move for the 63rd minute with an expansive move which swept from one half of the KC Stadium pitch to the other, neatly finished off by Burrow.
Senior was rewarded with another excellent display when he was presented the simplest of tries after 72 minutes.
And Pryce capped off a brilliant individual performance when he intercepted a loose New Zealand pass to run 70 metres for his second try of the evening.
Great Britain get off to the perfect start in Hull, with skipper Jamie Peacock crashing over after just 63 seconds
Gareth Raynor, playing on his club ground, gives Great Britain a healthy half-time lead with a third try in the left corner
New Zealand try anything to stop Lions forward Gareth Ellis as they look to get back into the match at the KC Stadium
Paul Wellens celebrates his try on 50 minutes after the New Zealand defence fails to deal with a high kick from Leon Pryce
Lions livewire Rob Burrow is hugged by Leeds club-mate Danny McGuire after bagging a sixth try for the rampant Lions
Keith Senior is mobbed by his team-mates after adding a seventh try for Britain - he won't score a much easier one
Leon Pryce streaks away for Britain's eighth and final try after intercepting a New Zealand pass in his own half
The Great Britain players take the applause of the home fans after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series
But it's a miserable night for New Zealand, who only have pride to play for in the final Test at Wigan's JJB Stadium
news.bbc.co.uk/sport
Now that the Rugby Union World Cup has finished, it's time for teams in Rugby League, the other type of rugby, to prepare for the Rugby League World Cup in 2008.
And Britain did that in style after thrashing New Zealand at the KC Stadium last night to win the 3-game Series.
New Zealand - the No2 ranked side in the world after World Champions Australia - suffered their biggest ever defeat, in Britain, by their former colonial masters.
And it was one of Great Britain's best performances ever.
GREAT BRITAIN 44-0 NEW ZEALAND (at the KC Stadium, Hull, East Yorkshire)
Great Britain: Paul Wellens (St Helens); Ade Gardner (St Helens), Keith Senior (Leeds), Martin Gleeson (Warrington), Gareth Raynor (Hull); Leon Pryce (St Helens), Rob Burrow (Leeds), Adrian Morley (Warrington), Jon Clarke (Warrington), Jamie Peacock (Leeds, capt), Gareth Ellis (Leeds), Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds)
Replacements: Maurie Fa'asavalu (St Helens), James Graham (St Helens), Sam Burgess (Bradford), Danny McGuire (Leeds).
------------------------------------------------
New Zealand: Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters); Shontayne Hape (Bradford), Clinton Toopi (Leeds), Paul Whatuira (Huddersfield), Taniela Tuiaki (Wests Tigers); Lance Hohaia (NZ Warriors), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan); Roy Asotasi (South Sydney, capt), Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers), Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta), Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors), Frank Pritchard (Penrith), Jeremy Smith (Melbourne).
Replacements: Greg Eastwood (Brisbane), Louis Anderson (Warrington), Sam Rapira (NZ Warriors), David Faiumu (North Queensland).
-----------------------------------------------
Referee: Tony Archer (Australia).
Great Britain clinched their first series victory in 14 years with an eight-try rout against New Zealand - the team ranked second in the world.
Jamie Peacock opened the scoring on two minutes and Leon Pryce doubled the lead 10 minutes later, with Gareth Raynor adding a third just before half-time.
Paul Wellens extended the lead after the break before Ade Gardner scored Great Britain's fifth on 56 minutes.
Leeds duo Rob Burrow and Keith Senior added further scores before Pryce ran in a 70-metre try on 77 minutes.
The home side produced one of their most emphatic international displays as coach Tony Smith brought an end to Great Britain's 14-year wait for international success.
Britain's last series win had come back in 1993 when they had beaten New Zealand 3-0.
Inevitably it was man-of-the-match Peacock who lead from the front with a 20,324-strong crowd watching on at the KC Stadium.
The Great Britain captain smashed his way through five tacklers before touching down after just two minutes.
Kevin Sinfield, who missed the first Test with a stomach bug, kicked over the extras.
Great Britain soon doubled their lead on 14 minutes when Pryce scored his first international try for five years, skipping past a static Sam Perrett, although referee Tony Archer needed the video referee's assitance to ensure the St Helens stand-off had grounded the ball properly.
Britain's punishing runs from first receiver had their desired effect as New Zealand's powerful forwards began to tire as their workloads increased.
The home side should have scored a third three minutes before the interval when a handling error from Clinton Toopi presented Raynor the simplest of chances, but the Hull winger somehow managed to spill the ball diving over the line.
But he made no mistake two minutes later, grounding a sweeping backs passing move created by a powerful run from prop Sam Burgess.
New Zealand attempted to surge forward after the interval in search for an early score, but were continually repelled by Great Britain's outstanding defence.
Britain's Sam Burgess leaves several New Zealand players in his wake
And the fourth try came in the 49th minute when Wellens grounded Pryce's hanging high ball inside the Kiwi's in-goal area, courtesy of a deft knock-back by centre Senior.
With Sinfield off the pitch, Burrow added the two points with Great Britain cruising to an emphatic victory.
The fifth try came courtesy of Sean O'Laughlin's enterprise, stealing the ball off full-back Perrett in a one-on-one tackle, feeding Burrow to pave the way for Gardner's second international try in the corner on 56 minutes.
Taniela Tuiaki looked certain to score New Zealand's first points of the night when he swept aside Gardner's tackle, only to receive a ferocious hit from full-back Wellens that forced the Wests Tigers winger to lose the ball from his grasp.
But Great Britain saved their best move for the 63rd minute with an expansive move which swept from one half of the KC Stadium pitch to the other, neatly finished off by Burrow.
Senior was rewarded with another excellent display when he was presented the simplest of tries after 72 minutes.
And Pryce capped off a brilliant individual performance when he intercepted a loose New Zealand pass to run 70 metres for his second try of the evening.
Great Britain get off to the perfect start in Hull, with skipper Jamie Peacock crashing over after just 63 seconds
Gareth Raynor, playing on his club ground, gives Great Britain a healthy half-time lead with a third try in the left corner
New Zealand try anything to stop Lions forward Gareth Ellis as they look to get back into the match at the KC Stadium
Paul Wellens celebrates his try on 50 minutes after the New Zealand defence fails to deal with a high kick from Leon Pryce
Lions livewire Rob Burrow is hugged by Leeds club-mate Danny McGuire after bagging a sixth try for the rampant Lions
Keith Senior is mobbed by his team-mates after adding a seventh try for Britain - he won't score a much easier one
Leon Pryce streaks away for Britain's eighth and final try after intercepting a New Zealand pass in his own half
The Great Britain players take the applause of the home fans after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series
But it's a miserable night for New Zealand, who only have pride to play for in the final Test at Wigan's JJB Stadium
news.bbc.co.uk/sport
