Where are they now? The last Great Britain side to host Australia in the rugby league Ashes

After the recent confirmation that the rugby league Ashes will return after 22 years, we’ve looked at the last Great Britain side to compete in the competition.

The Ashes are one of the most beloved concepts in rugby league, but sadly, we have not seen a series since 2003 but that is set to change later this year.

Wembley, Bramley-Moore Docks and Headingley will host each of the three Test matches with tickets set to hit general sale on April 14th.

The games will be played on three consecutive Saturdays in late October and early November, starting on October 25th at Wembley and concluding on November 8th at Headingley in a game that will almost certainly be a sell-out.

Where are they now? The last England men’s team to face Australia

Back in 2003, the final Test was held at Huddersfield’s stadium, then known as the Alfred McAlpine, with Australia beating the hosts 18-12 to complete a 3-0 series victory.

Among the great Australians playing that day were Darren Lockyer and Leeds Rhinos legend Danny Buderus, but what of the 17 men who represented Great Britian? We’ve looked back to see where each of those players is now.

Where are they now? The last Great Britain side to host Australia in the rugby league Ashes

☝️ You can bring back ONE #EnglandRL legend to face Australia later this year – who are you picking? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/CeqM0hqWpU

— England Rugby League (@England_RL) March 28, 2025

Head coach David Waite made four changes from the second Test with two new centres and two changes on the bench with Gary Connolly, Keith Senior and Paul Anderson the trio to miss out.

Of those who played in that final Ashes Test between Great Britain and Autralia, several are head coaches in both rugby league and rugby union, whilst there are also club CEOs, pundits and commentators.

Full-back: Kris Radlinski

One of those who has gone on to have arguably an even more successful career off the field than on it, and that is not to diminish what Kris Radlinski did during his playing days. He even scored in this game but the lifelong Wigan player has overseen immense success since becoming the club’s CEO with his appointment of Matt Peet as head coach likely among his greatest ever decisions.

Winger: Brian Carney

Another who was playing for Wigan at the time and who has had plenty of success after calling time on his career, Carney is the undisputed face of rugby league on TV in the UK. The Irishman heads up Sky Sports and is a genuinely wonderful ambassador the sport, someone who is needed at this trying time.

Centre: Martin Gleeson

Gleeson was at St Helens at the time and replaced Keith Senior for this Test, making it one of the 20 times he represented Great Britain. After calling time on his playing career in 2014, he’s worked for England in rugby union but currently works at Warrington Wolves as a coach.

Centre: Lee Gilmour

Gilmour would make the move to St Helens at the end of the 2003 season before playing another decade, retiring in 2014 with Wakefield Trinity where the 47-year-old has coached since.

Winger: Richard Horne

One of the younger members of that squad, Horne was just 21 when he played against the Aussies in the first of 12 appearances for Great Britain. He spent all of his career with Hull FC, tallying over 300 games, before moving into coaching with Doncaster who currently sit seventh in the Championship.

Stand-off: Paul Sculthorpe

Heading into the 2003 season, Sculthorpe was coming off the back of back-to-back Man of Steel seasons, making him the only man to ever achieve the feat. The St Helens legend has since been indicted into the Rugby Football League Hall of Fame and currently works as a leading voice in the sport on varying punditry gigs.

Half-back: Paul Deacon

Deacon is another who has crossed codes since calling time on his playing career back in 2011, initially coaching in rugby league before crossing over to join Sale Sharks in 2015. He was then promoted to serve as their head coach in 2020, a role he still holds.

Prop: Stuart Fielden

Like Deacon, Fielden was representing Bradford back in 2003 and whilst both he and Willie Mason played in this game, they’d have to wait until 2006 for their infamous scrap. Since retiring, Fielden has coached at an amateur level with Beverley but currently works as a ‘Pastoral and Behavioural Intervention Officer’, per his LinkedIn.

Hooker: Terry Newton

Newton was playing for Wigan back in 2003, a season in which he suffered with injury but played through and that saw him earn this gig for Great Britain and deservedly so, playing on till 2010. He sadly passed away in 2010 at age 31.

Prop: Adrian Morley

One of the finest players on the planet at the time, Morley was one of several legends in this team and one of very few Englishman to head to the NRL at this time. He’d play over 100 games for Sydney Roosters before moving to Warrington in 2007, with whom he would win the Challenge Cup twice. One of the sport’s few Golden Cap owners (50+ international appearances), he now works as a pundit and for Rugby League Cares.

Second-row: Jamie Peacock

Another enforcer in the pack, the Leeds Rhinos legend was still at Bradford at this time, with whom he won the Grand Final in 2003 during his Man of Steel-winning campaign. Peacock retired in 2015 with Leeds but briefly came out of retirement whilst working at Hull KR. He now serves as a pundit for the BBC and works as a motivational speaker.

Second-row: Andy Farrell

In a team that has produced many coaches, Farrell is arguably the best one but he does his trade in the other code. He’d make the switch to rugby union in 2005 and has coached in the sport since his retirement, most recently being appointed as the head coach for the British and Irish Lions and overseeing back-to-back Six Nations wins for Ireland.

Loose forward: Mike Forshaw

Forshaw was one of the veterans in this team another member of that Bradford Bulls side who won the Grand Final in 2003. He’d retire at the end of the 2004 season having joined Warrington before taking up coaching, first in league and then in rugby union. He currently works as the defence coach for the Welsh national team.

Interchange: Sean Long

Long was flying high with St Helens back in 2003, a club he reconnected with during his coaching journey before also crossing over to rugby union. He’d then return and take up roles with Leeds Rhinos and France before becoming a head coach with Featherstone. He was sacked from the club in 2023 when Rovers were top of the table by a whopping eight points, only for London to be promoted whilst Long joined up with Oldham who he got promoted to the Championship in 2024.

Interchange: Barrie McDermott

Another of the old-school players in this team who loved the biff, McDermott called time on his career in 2006 and has since been one of the sport’s leading pundits.

Interchange: Kevin Sinfield

The Leeds Rhinos legend was just 23 back in 2003 but already was establishing himself as one of Super League’s best, going on to win the first of his seven Grand Finals the year after. He called time on playing in 2015 and after a brief spell with Leeds, made the move to rugby union where he coaches now as the England defence coach. However, he does so much more than that with his fundraising efforts for MND in the name of Rob Burrow arguably his greatest ever achievement.

Interchange: Gareth Ellis

Brought into the squad for the third Test, Ellis was plying his trade for Wakefield back in 2003. He had more longevity than any in this squad, only retiring in 2020 whilst at Hull FC where he has recently been appointed as Director of Rugby.