Kiwi Carroll selected for Australia

Australia have included six uncapped players, plus one who has previously played for New Zealand, in their squad to travel to England for the Tri-Nations tournament later this month.

The Brisbane and former Leeds loose forward, Tonie Carroll, took advantage of his Kiwi links in the 2000 World Cup and is now poised to become the first player for 90 years to appear for both countries after being named in the 25-man Australian party.

Three members of the Canterbury side that won the Australian Grand Final on Sunday - Mark O'Meley, Andrew Ryan and Willie Tonga - are also in line to gain their first caps.

Other potential debutants are the North Queensland full-back Matt Bowen, St George-Illawarra centre Matt Cooper and Penrith winger Luke Rooney.

When they play the opening game of the tournament in Auckland on 16 October, Australia could face the Wakefield second-rower, David Solomona, added to the Kiwi squad over the weekend after a fine season in England.

New Zealand will be without Canterbury's Matt Utai whoneeds surgery on an ankle injury.

The executive chairman of the Rugby League, Richard Lewis, has suggested that Great Britain should revert to playing under as England from the 2008 World Cup onwards. Scotland, Ireland and Wales would then play under their own banners.

Widnes have signed the Warrington scrum-half Gary Hulse. Willie Peters, who played the latter stages of the season in that position, is returning to South Sydney after turning down an offer to stay at Widnes.