'Someone had just thrown the tour together' - Roper

JON Roper will return to training with Warrington Wolves this week, feeling disillusioned with international rugby.

Roper was one of 12 sent home early from the Great Britain tour of the south pacific, while those that were able to stay fought out and lost the second Test and the series to New Zealand.

Warrington's star centre said yesterday, Monday: "I am glad to be home for a number of reasons and I am disappointed with the way things ended with the tour.

"We were told we were going home because it was a cost-cutting measure. It seems as though someone had just thrown the tour together. I feel there was a lack of organisation between the two countries with no-one communicating with each other."

Roper also revealed: "Some players were made clear in the first week that they would not be playing in Tests."

The Cumbrian agreed this was bad for morale with some players and the camp was basically split into two separate sides.

It should have been the experience of a lifetime for the tourists but Roper said he had not learned a great deal from the tour.

"I will learn more in training at Warrington over the next three months than I did on tour."

Warrington's Paul Sculthorpe hopes to be included in the third and final Test with New Zealand on Friday. He was substituted midway through the first half of Friday's clash. Iestyn Harris put in an improved performance as the Lions lost 18-15 to the Kiwis.

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