Clive Griffiths, Wales's coach, used his country's success in the Super League Nines Trophy in Fiji yesterday to demand greater recognition in the Test arena. Wales, who were demoted to the consolation Trophy event after a narrow defeat against Papua New Guinea on the opening day, claimed a 16-6 semi-final win over Tonga before beating Western Samoa in the final, 12-8 after extra time. Griffiths said: "We were very unlucky to lose to Papua in the earlier round, and but for that last-minute try we could have been competing with the big boys in the main competition. I believe Wales should now be given the opportunity of playing full Test matches against the Pacific Nations, and perhaps even a tour of Australia."

In the main competition, a disappointing

England came fourth, themselves slippingto a 15-14 defeat against Papua in the final seconds of their semi-final. In the other semi-final, Australia were surprisingly beaten by the eventual winners, New Zealand. Facing Australia in the third-place play-off, England were again heading for victory. But Australia forced the game into extra-time, and a tired England allowed Robbie Beckett to score the winning try for a 14-10 victory.

Iestyn Harris, Mark Jones (both Warrington), Paul Atcheson, Neil Cowie, Scott Quinnell (all Wigan), Allan Bateman (Cronulla), Jason Critchley, Gareth Cochrane (both Keighley), Gareth Stephens (Castleford), Gavin Price-Jones (Swinton), Ian Watson (Salford), Mark Perrett (Halifax), Rowland Phillips (Workington), John Donno (Widnes).