THE three-Test rugby league series between Great Britain and Australia was set to rise from the ashes today following news of a dramatic U-turn by the Kangaroos.

After initially saying they would not make the trip in the wake of the military strikes on Afghanistan, the ARL have now decided to travel - albeit for a shorter tour.

The Aussies will now just take in the three Test matches at Huddersfield, Bolton and Wigan.

And while jubilant RFL officials were set to make the finishing touches for the whistle-stop tour, City of York Hockey Club captain Mark Moisley was breathing a sigh of relief.

Moisley and his Escrick-based business I Was There Ltd had the contract to produce the official merchandise for the three-Test series, but he faced losing "thousands of pounds" when the Australians refused to travel last week.

But the change of heart means Moisley can now sell the polo shirts and caps at the matches.

The ten-strong ARL board re-opened talks with the players overnight after receiving new security assurances from the British government.

The news has been greeted with as much relief as joy at RFL headquarters in Leeds.

The League are still reeling from a financially disastrous World Cup and the loss of the money-spinning Kangaroo tour would have been calamitous.

Six days of intense lobbying, led by former RFL chief executive Maurice Lindsay, helped persuade them to overturn their original decision, as did an unprecedented storm of criticism of the ARL stance and the decision of the Wallabies to go ahead with their European tour.

The tour, now without the four club matches, will kick-off on November 11 at Huddersfield.

Updated: 12:24 Tuesday, October 16, 2001