Rugby League: Britain's loss of status

THE last time Britain had representatives in the World Sevens, two years ago, Martin Offiah scored four tries in the final, which Wigan won, and 10 in all. That goes some way to explain why the Great Britain squad that arrived here without him have had such a negative response.

The promotion of St John Ellis as Offiah's substitute was greeted at a press conference in silence, and the odds on the one-time 5-1 favourites have lengthened to 10-1.

Of the 11 overseas sides who, with 16 Sydney Competition clubs, are competing for the Aus dollars 100,000 Cup ( pounds 49,000) prize-money, the Russians have by far the best tale to tell.

The story, from Anatoly Dubrovkin, the team manager, is that he provided, at Boris Yeltsin's direct request, a security guard from Moscow-based league players for the White House during the riotous events of August 1991 and again during the troubles last year.

There will be considerable interest, not least from the international rugby union authorities, in the performances of the South Pacific sides. Western Somoa, who did so well in the rugby union World Sevens last year, have two players called Tuimavave, which resonates with Edinburgh, and it is rumoured that most of the Fijians are union converts.

Friday and Saturday is taken up with 27 preliminary matches to identify the quarter-finalists in Plate, Trophy and Cup. Great Britain's first round games are against Western Samoa on Friday and Canberra on Saturday.

GREAT BRITAIN (v Western Samoa, 10.20 GMT): Tait (Leeds) St John Ellis (Castleford), Davies (Warrington, capt), Steadman (Castleford), Clarke (Wigan), Jackson (Sheffield Eagles), Joynt (St Helens).

The Rugby League Council has confirmed that Bradford Northern's Paul Newlove, and Martin Offiah and Sean Edwards of Wigan, cannot play for their clubs in this weekend's matches after withdrawing from the Great Britain squad.