Despite the success of 1995, it took another five years to stage another World Cup and when it came, it proved to be a disaster.

Hosted again in Britain, with France playing their games at home, a further six teams were added to the tournament, but its credibility was questioned by the inclusion of a Lebanon team based on Australian players of Lebanese descent and a New Zealand Maori outfit.

The tournament plunged the Rugby Football League into debt and on the field the England team gained little credit either, crashing to a 22-2 defeat in the opening match against Australia.

They picked themselves up, though, with big wins over Fiji and Russia, while the Australians qualified first in Group One with a perfect record.

Wales, with a much-weakened side in comparison to 1995, spluttered to wins over the Cook Islands and Lebanon before being crushed by New Zealand in their final pool match 58-18. The Kiwis predictably put cricket scores on the minnow sides to cruise into the quarter-finals.

In Group Three Papua New Guinea defeated France narrowly in the opening game 23-20, before the pair both qualified for the next round. Group Four saw debutants Ireland top the table, but there was disappointment for fellow new-boys Scotland who finished the tournament winless.

The quarter-finals proved to be poorly attended mismatches, although Wales did well to see off Papua New Guinea 22-8 in Widnes.

Wales also did themselves credit in the semi-final against Australia leading 20-14 at half-time, but a second-half avalanche from the Kangaroos saw them into the final to defend their crown with a 46-22 win. England's involvement also ended at the semi-final stage with an embarrassing 49-6 defeat at the hands of New Zealand.

However, it was the Kiwis who were embarrassed in the final at Old Trafford as Australia ran in seven tries to claim the crown once more with a 40-12 victory.