EXCLUSIVE: Don't axe Great Britain tag, says Sculthorpe

The big debate in the aftermath of Great Britain's 'whitewash' of New Zealand in the rugby league Gillette Fusion Test series is the future of the shirt.

I keep reading about Great Britain being 'disbanded' and the shirt being 'retired' in favour of playing under the England banner from now on.

If that is what the RFL are proposing, it can't be right. Fair enough, if they want to go into next year's World Cup finals as independent nations.

It has happened before and there can be few arguments when England, Scotland and Ireland have all qualified for the 2008 World Cup.

But I can't go along with the idea that we should play as England in future Test series or international tournaments on home soil and in most series when we go to Australia or New Zealand.

It won't involve me because I've already said I'm done with international rugby league after 26 caps and the injury problems I've had. But captaining the side against New Zealand last year was the highlight of my career.

Ask any of our players and they'll tell you they want to play for Great Britain.

Even if the door has been left open for a possible Lions tour Down Under a year before the 2013 World Cup, that still means the shirt will have been 'retired' for six years.

I just think it's wrong and it would surprise me if the lads who have just bashed the Kiwis 3-0 to give Great Britain a series win for the first time since 1993, disagree with me.

There were some great performances by our lads and I hope skipper Jamie Peacock, who lifted the Henry Baskerville Trophy for winning the series, goes on to win the coveted 'Golden Boot' as international player of the year now he is on the short list.

His early try in the second Test at Hull was a typical example of leading from the front.

Rob Burrow deservedly was voted 'Man of the Series' while Adrian Morley and Sean O'Loughlin turned in terrific performances in the final Test when the Kiwis were throwing everything at them.

They're all eligible to play for England in next year's World Cup finals in Australia and can go there high in confidence.

But don't retire that Great Britain shirt for good. It means too much.