A rugby league Ashes Test will be played on Saturday for the first time in 22 years but what did the last team to take on the Aussies look like and where are they now?
Saturday’s first Test at Wembley marks not only the first meeting between England and Australia since the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Final, but the first Ashes Test in over two decades.
Back in 2003, the last Test was played at Huddersfield’s ground, then known as the Alfred McAlpine, with that game being won 18-12 by Australia as they completed a 3-0 series victory.
Of course, they were playing Great Britain back then whilst this year’s Ashes is England versus Australia but that’s not the only change.
Darren Lockyer was among the Aussie greats playing that day and he’s now a co-owner of London Broncos, but what of the Great Britain side and the 17 men who played that day? We’ve looked back to see where each of those players is in 2025.
Where are they now? The last Great Britain side to host Australia in the rugby league Ashes
Full-back: Kris Radlinski
The current Wigan Warriors CEO was playing at number one for GB back in 2003. He scored in the 18-12 defeat but in recent years, he’s helped mastermind success at his former club.
Winger: Brian Carney
Not someone who would qualify to play in this version of the Ashes with Carney being a proud Irishman. He was also at Wigan in 2003 and he’s now best known for heading up Sky Sports coverage of rugby league.
Centre: Martin Gleeson
Gleeson was actually shipped into the side for this Test as he replaced Keith Senior. He’s recently left Warrington Wolves where he had been assistant coach.
Centre: Lee Gilmour
Retiring in 2014, Gilmour ended his career with Wakefield Trinity where he moved into coaching. He’s set to play in the Bryn Hargreaves testimonial game in November alongside a number of fellow former St Helens players including Sean Long.
Winger: Richard Horne
The current Doncaster coach was among the youngest in the 2003 squad, just 21 when he played in the first of his 12 Great Britain appearances in this Test.
Stand-off: Paul Sculthorpe
The 2001 and 2002 Super League Man of Steel winner, the only man to ever retain the award, started in the halves that day. He currently works as a key voice within the sport offering insight.
Half-back: Paul Deacon
Deacon has only just returned to rugby league having crossed codes after retirement to coach with Sale Sharks before recently landing a role with Wigan Warriors.
Prop: Stuart Fielden
Another of the Bradford boys from 2003 and despite many thinking so, it wasn’t this game where he and Willie Mason went at it but instead a 2006 Test. According to his LinkedIn, Field works as a ‘Pastoral and Behavioural Intervention Officer’.
Hooker: Terry Newton
Playing for Wigan in 2003, Newton fought through an injury-hit campaign to make the Ashes. He’s sadly no longer with us having passed away aged 31 back in 2010.
Prop: Adrian Morley
A strong argument could be made that ‘Moz’ was the best prop on the planet in 2003. Playing in the NRL at the time, he would immortalise himself as one of our very best as he went on to win a Golden Cap for 50 or more international appearances. He now works in punditry and for Rugby Legue Cares.
Second-row: Jamie Peacock
Peacock will be covering this Ashes for the BBC but he was playing in the last one albeit whilst still at Bradford, though he’s best remembered for his time at Headingley.
Second-row: Andy Farrell
He’s recently given the rallying call for fans of rugby union, the sport he crossed codes to and still coaches in, to watch this Ashes series. Farrell switched codes in 2005 and has gone on to become one of the best coaches in rugby union, recently overseeing a British and Irish Lions tour win over Australia.
Loose forward: Mike Forshaw
Another of the Grand Final winners from Bradford and one of the senior players in this squad. He coached in league and union and was the previously Welsh national team and Leicester Tigers defence coach before leaving that role for personal reasons.
Interchange: Sean Long
A livewire off the bench, Long was at St Helens back in 2003 but he’s now the head coach of Oldham who won League One in 2024 and made the Championship play-offs in 2025.
Interchange: Barrie McDermott
The Leeds Rhinos legend is one of the leading pundits on Sky Sports these days.
Interchange: Kevin Sinfield
An incredible career in rugby league but you’d argue his achievements off it might be even better in terms of the recent fundraising he has done for best friend Rob Burrow. Sinfield will once again run seven ultra-marathons this winter to raise money for the MND association.
Interchange: Gareth Ellis
Appointed as the director of rugby at Hull FC this year, he only actually retired in 2020 as one of the younger players in this squad.
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