Great Britain forced to evacuate team hotel because of huge fire
GREAT Britain’s preparations for their first Test in 12 years have been thrown into chaos by a huge building fire.
Players, coaches and staff were all told to evacuate their base in Auckland, New Zealand because of the blaze at the nearby SkyCity Convention Centre.
As a result, the Lions quickly shifted to Hamilton, where they will face Tonga on Saturday, where they will resume training.
One person has been taken to Auckland City Hospital in a serious condition as the cause is understood to have been an unattended blowtorch on the site, which is still being built.
Smoke billowed from the scene, which is right in the centre of Auckland, and several roads have been closed.
A Great Britain spokesman said: “The centre of Auckland has been covered by smoke from the fire and the team has been moved to Hamilton a day earlier than had been planned ahead.
“The team had been on a day off and left Auckland at 5pm for Hamilton. The team was set to train in Auckland but will now train in Hamilton to ensure preparations can continue for Saturday’s game.
“It all happened very quickly, within an hour of the lads being told to pack their bags we were on the coach out of Auckland.”
The drama delayed the announcement of Wayne Bennett’s team to face what is technically a Tonga Invitational XIII because of problems surrounding the Pacific island’s official board.
The fire caused Great Britain to delay the naming of their squad for Saturday's game, which sees two Australia-born players - Lachlan Coote and Jackson Hastings - in line to play.
Skipper James Graham shifts to loose forward and Zak Hardaker to centre while Josh Jones is set to make his debut off the bench.
Tonga, coached by incoming St Helens boss Kristian Woolf, have named Super League stars Ben Murdoch-Masila and Tui Lolohea, as well as Hull new boy Manu Ma’u, in their side.
GREAT BRITAIN SIDE TO FACE TONGA
Coote; McGillvary, Hardaker, Gildart, Hall; Widdop, Hastings; Hill, Hodgson, Thompson, Bateman, Whitehead, Graham. Interchange: Jones, Burgess, Lomax, Walmsley. Reserves: Connor, Hughes, Williams, Clark.