All Blacks loss may help rugby league side raise profile

IT has not been the best time to be a New Zealander in England since the All Blacks surprisingly fell at the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup when being beaten by France at the Millennium Stadium ten days ago.

"I have had some stick in the last few days, I can tell you," said Doncaster Rugby League Club's New Zealand born director of rugby Carl Hall.

"It was a shock because the All Blacks have won everything for the last four years and they were the overwhelming favourites but they haven't won the competition since the first one in 1987.

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"It won't go down well back home where rugby union is almost a relegion. But it gives the Kiwis', who start a four-match tour over here this weekend, the chance for rugby league, which is the No 2 sport in New Zealand, to make up ground in the popularity stakes.

"Unlike over here where people tend to watch either union or league, back home rugby is rugby and people watch both whatever their preference.

"I'd like for that to happen in Doncaster and we are trying to forge links with Doncaster Knights Rugby Union Club and it would be nice to see both sets of supporters watching both games at some point in the future."

Having played union professionally in both England and France, as well as having gained representative honours for New Zealand in rugby league and played for the Dons, Bradford and Leeds, Hall is well qualified to comment on the outcome of Saturday's England-South Africa World Cup final in Paris and the forthcoming Great Britain-Kiwis rugby league series.

When pressed Hall plumped for the Springboks and the Lions.