Briers to play in Four Nations

Lee Briers has decided to extend his international career following Wales‘ successful 2010 campaign and has pledged to play in the 2011 Four Nations tournament.

The veteran Warrington Wolves half-back ended a three-year exile from the international scene by helping Wales retain the European Cup and, more importantly, secure a place in the 2011 Gillette Four Nations Series.

That was mission accomplished for the 32-year-old, who had intended to hang his boots back up after October’s gripping 12-11 win over France in Albi, but it merely whetted his appetite for the big stage.

Briers, who won his solitary Great Britain cap against France in 2001, will now get the chance to show his skill against Australia and New Zealand as well as England in next autumn’s Four Nations.

With 20 caps for Wales, he is joint third in the all-time records for his country, behind Ian Watson on 27 and Jim Sullivan on 26.

And the former St Helens scrum half has not ruled out another tilt at the World Cup in 2013, which Wales will co-host with England, rekindling memories of his man-of-the-match display against the Kangaroos in the 2000 semi-final at Huddersfield.

“Winning the European Cup was awesome,” said Briers, who initially bowed out of the Welsh camp in the wake of their failure to reach the 2008 World Cup.

“My aim was to play in the European Cup and then probably retire after that but I’ve got the bug again to play internationally.

“I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. The boys made me feel very welcome.

“I’ll definitely be playing again next year and we’ll see how the body is after that.

“This is an exciting time for myself and for Wales. It was my sole aim to get Wales back where they should be and this is massive for Wales rugby league. We are now pitting ourselves against the best in the world.

“If we want to improve as a country, it was something we needed to do.”

Briers led Wales to their wins over Scotland and Ireland but was forced to sit out the all-important decider against the French with a knee injury, with Gareth Thomas taking over the captaincy.

“It was very disappointing not to play in the final but it made up for with the effort the boys put in against France,” he said.