2002 New Zealand rugby league tour

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.[1][2]

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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5][6] 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.[7]

In the end Great Britain tied the series, taking the inaugural Baskerville Shield as hosts.[8] The third test match was Great Britain's first win over New Zealand since 1993.

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 After the Australia Test both Lomu and Matt Utai were withdrawn by their clubs for off-season surgery.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.[9] 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.[10]

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.[10]

Name	Club	Australia	Wales	GB	GB	GB	France	Games	Tries	Goals	FGs	Points
Monty Betham	New Zealand Warriors		BE	BE	BE	LK		4	0	0	0	0
Jason Cayless	Sydney Roosters						PR	1	0	0	0	0
Henry Fa'afili	New Zealand Warriors	WG	WG	WG	WG	WG	WG	6	3	0	0	12
Awen Guttenbeil	New Zealand Warriors	BE	SR	LK	LK	SR	BE	6	0	0	0	0
Lance Hohaia	New Zealand Warriors	FE	FE	FE	FE	FE	FE	6	1	7	0	18
Sean Hoppe	St Helens R.F.C.					WG	CE	2	0	0	0	0
Stacey Jones (c)	New Zealand Warriors	HB	HB	HB	HB	HB	HB	6	6	1	0	26
Stephen Kearney	Melbourne Storm	LK	LK	SR	SR			4	1	0	0	4
Ali Lauitiiti	New Zealand Warriors	SR	SR	SR	BE	BE	SR	6	1	0	0	4
Andrew Lomu	Sydney Roosters	BE						1	0	0	0	0
Francis Meli	New Zealand Warriors		WG	WG	WG	CE	WG	5	4	0	0	16
Robbie Paul	Bradford Bulls		FB	FB	FB		HK	4	1	0	0	4
Tony Puletua	Penrith Panthers		BE	BE	BE	BE		4	0	0	0	0
Paul Rauhihi	Bulldogs RLFC	PR	PR	PR	PR	PR	PR	6	0	0	0	0
Jerry Seuseu	New Zealand Warriors	PR	PR	PR	PR	PR	BE	6	1	0	0	4
Michael Smith	Castleford Tigers						SR	1	0	0	0	0
David Solomona	Parramatta Eels	BE	BE	BE	BE		BE	5	0	0	0	0
Richard Swain	Melbourne Storm	HK	HK	HK	HK	HK		5	2	14	0	36
Logan Swann	New Zealand Warriors		BE	BE	BE	BE	BE	5	2	0	0	8
Motu Tony	New Zealand Warriors	BE						1	0	0	0	0
Clinton Toopi	New Zealand Warriors	CE		CE	CE			3	1	0	0	4
Matt Utai	Bulldogs RLFC	WG						1	1	0	0	4
David Vaealiki	Parramatta Eels	FB				FB	FB	3	1	0	0	4
Nigel Vagana	Bulldogs RLFC	CE	CE	CE	CE	CE	CE	6	4	0	0	16
Ruben Wiki	Canberra Raiders	SR	CE		SR	SR	LK	5	1	0	0	4

• Coach: Gary Freeman

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

12 October 2002

New Zealand	24–32	Australia
Tries: Stacey Jones Richard Swain Clinton Toopi Matt Utai Goals: Richard Swain (4/5)	[11]	Tries: Matthew Gidley (2) Scott Hill Ben Kennedy Willie Mason Timana Tahu Goals: Hazem El Masri (4/7)

Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 25,015 Referee: Bill Harrigan (Australia) Player of the Match: Scott Hill (Australia)

New Zealand

Australia

FB 1 David Vaealiki LW 2 Henry Fa'afili RC 3 Nigel Vagana LC 4 Clinton Toopi RW 5 Matt Utai FE 6 Lance Hohaia HB 7 Stacey Jones (c) PR 8 Jerry Seuseu HK 9 Richard Swain PR 10 Paul Rauhihi SR 11 Ali Lauiti'iti SR 12 Ruben Wiki LK 13 Stephen Kearney Substitutions: IC 14 Motu Tony IC 15 Andrew Lomu IC 16 Awen Guttenbeil IC 17 David Solomona Coach: Gary Freeman

FB 1 Darren Lockyer LW 2 Timana Tahu RC 3 Matthew Gidley LC 4 Brent Tate RW 5 Hazem El Masri FE 6 Trent Barrett HB 7 Brett Kimmorley PR 8 Shane Webcke HK 9 Danny Buderus PR 10 Jason Stevens SR 11 Gorden Tallis (c) SR 12 Ben Kennedy LF 13 Scott Hill Substitutions: IC 14 Craig Wing IC 15 Craig Fitzgibbon IC 16 Steve Menzies IC 17 Willie Mason Coach: Chris Anderson

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British leg

22 October

Hull F.C.	11–28	New Zealand
Tries: Richard Horne, Paul Parker Goals: Matt Crowther (1) Field Goals: Graham Mackay (1)	[12]	Tries: Henry Fa'afili (2), David Vaealiki, Nigel Vagana, Francis Meli Goals: Lance Hohaia (4)

The Boulevard, Kingston upon Hull Attendance: 12,092 Referee: Robert Connolly

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

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25 October

St Helens	26–38	New Zealand
	[13]

Knowsley Road, St. Helens

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30 October

England A	12–34	New Zealand
	[13]

Griffin Park, London

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Wales vs New Zealand

3 November 2002

Wales	22–50	New Zealand
Tries: Paul Atcheson Hefin O'Hare Kris Tassell Goals: Lee Briers (5)	[14]	Tries: Francis Meli (3) Logan Swann (2) Lance Hohaia Stacey Jones Robbie Paul Goals: Richard Swain (6) Lance Hohaia (1)

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 8,746 Referee: Steve Ganson (England) Player of the Match: Stacey Jones (New Zealand)

Wales

New Zealand

FB 1 Damian Gibson RW 2 Hefin O'Hare RC 3 Kris Tassell LC 4 Adam Hughes LW 5 Chris Smith SO 6 Lee Briers (c) SH 7 Mark Lennon PR 8 Keith Mason HK 9 Ian Watson PR 10 Dave Whittle SR 11 Justin Morgan SR 12 David Mills LK 13 Paul Highton Substitutions: IC 14 Paul Atcheson IC 15 Gareth Dean IC 16 Gareth Price IC 17 Rob Roberts Coach: Neil Kelly

FB 1 Robbie Paul LW 2 Henry Fa'afili RC 3 Nigel Vagana LC 4 Ruben Wiki RW 5 Francis Meli FE 6 Lance Hohaia HB 7 Stacey Jones (c) PR 8 Jerry Seuseu HK 9 Richard Swain PR 10 Paul Rauhihi SR 11 Ali Lauiti'iti SR 12 Awen Guttenbeil LK 13 Stephen Kearney Substitutions: IC 14 Monty Betham IC 15 David Solomona IC 16 Logan Swann IC 17 Tony Puletua Coach: Gary Freeman

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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

9 November 2002

Great Britain	16–30	New Zealand
Tries: Jamie Peacock Leon Pryce Goals: Andy Farrell (4)	[15]	Tries: Henry Fa'afili (3) Nigel Vagana (2) Stacey Jones Goals: Richard Swain (3)

Ewood Park, Blackburn Attendance: 16,654 Referee: Steve Clark (Australia)

Great Britain

New Zealand

FB 1 Gary Connolly RW 2 Leon Pryce RC 3 Martin Gleeson LC 4 Keith Senior LW 5 Karl Pratt SO 6 Kevin Sinfield SH 7 Paul Deacon PR 8 Stuart Fielden HK 9 Keiron Cunningham PR 10 Barrie McDermott SR 11 Andy Farrell (c) SR 12 Adrian Morley LK 13 Mike Forshaw Substitutions: IC 14 Lee Gilmour IC 15 Chris Joynt IC 16 Paul Anderson IC 17 Jamie Peacock Coach: David Waite

FB 1 Robbie Paul LW 2 Henry Fa'afili RC 3 Nigel Vagana LC 4 Clinton Toopi RW 5 Francis Meli FE 6 Lance Hohaia HB 7 Stacey Jones (c) PR 8 Jerry Seuseu HK 9 Richard Swain PR 10 Paul Rauhihi SR 11 Ali Lauiti'iti SR 12 Stephen Kearney LK 13 Awen Guttenbeil Substitutions: IC 14 Monty Betham IC 15 David Solomona IC 16 Logan Swann IC 17 Tony Puletua Coach: 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.[10]

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2nd Test

16 November 2002

Great Britain	14–14	New Zealand
Tries: Martin Gleeson Leon Pryce Goals: Andy Farrell (13)	[16]	Tries: Stephen Kearney Francis Meli Ruben Wiki Goals: Richard Swain (1)

Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield Attendance: 23,604 Referee: Steve Clark (Australia)

Great Britain

New Zealand

FB 1 Gary Connolly RW 2 Lee Gilmour RC 3 Martin Gleeson LC 4 Keith Senior LW 5 Leon Pryce SO 6 Paul Sculthorpe SH 7 Paul Deacon PR 8 Terry O'Connor HK 9 James Lowes PR 10 Stuart Fielden SR 11 Jamie Peacock SR 12 Andy Farrell (c) LK 13 Mike Forshaw Substitutions: IC 14 Kevin Sinfield IC 15 Richard Horne IC 16 Paul Anderson IC 17 Danny Orr Coach: David Waite

FB 1 Robbie Paul LW 2 Henry Fa'afili RC 3 Nigel Vagana LC 4 Clinton Toopi RW 5 Francis Meli FE 6 Lance Hohaia HB 7 Stacey Jones (c) PR 8 Jerry Seuseu HK 9 Richard Swain PR 10 Paul Rauhihi SR 11 Ruben Wiki SR 12 Stephen Kearney LK 13 Awen Guttenbeil Substitutions: IC 14 Tony Puletua IC 15 Ali Lauiti'iti IC 16 Monty Betham IC 17 Logan Swann Coach: Gary Freeman

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3rd Test

23 November 2002

Great Britain	16–10	New Zealand
Tries: Martin Gleeson Paul Sculthorpe Keith Senior Goals: Andy Farrell (2)	[17]	Tries: Stacey Jones Ali Lauiti'iti Goals: Stacey Jones (1)

JJB Stadium, Wigan Attendance: 22,247 Referee: Steve Clark (Australia)

Great Britain

New Zealand

FB 1 Gary Connolly RW 2 Leon Pryce RC 3 Martin Gleeson LC 4 Keith Senior LW 5 Lee Gilmour SO 6 Paul Sculthorpe SH 7 Paul Deacon PR 8 Stuart Fielden HK 9 James Lowes PR 10 Barrie McDermott SR 11 Adrian Morley SR 12 Andy Farrell (c) LK 13 Mike Forshaw Substitutions: IC 14 Danny Orr IC 15 Jamie Peacock IC 16 Paul Anderson IC 17 Richard Horne Coach: David Waite

FB 1 David Vaealiki LW 2 Henry Fa'afili RC 3 Nigel Vagana LC 4 Sean Hoppe RW 5 Francis Meli FE 6 Lance Hohaia HB 7 Stacey Jones (c) PR 8 Jerry Seuseu HK 9 Richard Swain PR 10 Paul Rauhihi SR 11 Ruben Wiki SR 12 Awen Guttenbeil LK 13 Monty Betham Substitutions: IC 14 Tony Puletua IC 15 David Solomona IC 16 Ali Lauiti'iti IC 17 Logan Swann Coach: Gary Freeman

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France vs New Zealand

30 November 2002

France	10–36	New Zealand
Tries: Jérôme Guisset Claude Sirvent Goals: Laurent Frayssinous (2)	[18]	Tries: Stacey Jones (2) Nigel Vagana (2) Jerry Seuseu David Vaealiki Goals: Lance Hohaia (6)

Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan Attendance: 6,500 Referee: Robert Connolly (England)

France

New Zealand

FB 1 Michael Van Snick RW 2 Renaud Guigue RC 3 Claude Sirvent LC 4 Arnaud Dulac LW 5 Fourcade Abasse SO 6 Laurent Frayssinous SH 7 Julien Rinaldi PR 8 Jérôme Guisset HK 9 David Berthezène PR 10 Romain Gagliazzo SR 11 Pascal Jampy (c) SR 12 Sébastien Raguin LK 13 Laurent Carrasco Substitutions: IC 14 Olivier Pramil IC 15 Jamal Fakir IC 16 Jean-Christophe Borlin IC 17 Julien Gerin Coach: Gilles Dumas

FB 1 David Vaealiki LW 2 Henry Fa'afili RC 3 Nigel Vagana LC 4 Sean Hoppe RW 5 Francis Meli FE 6 Lance Hohaia HB 7 Stacey Jones (c) PR 8 Jason Cayless HK 9 Richard Swain PR 10 Paul Rauhihi SR 11 Ali Lauiti'iti SR 12 Michael Smith LK 13 Ruben Wiki Substitutions: IC 14 Awen Guttenbeil IC 15 David Solomona IC 16 Jerry Seuseu IC 17 Logan Swann Coach: Gary Freeman

New Zealand halfback Stacey Jones won the George Smith Medal as player of the series against Great Britain.[19] The tour was Freeman's last as head coach. In 2003 Daniel Anderson was named as the new Kiwis coach.