Lions turn to Rhinos boss Smith

Leeds head coach Tony Smith has been unveiled as Great Britain's new supremo on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

The 40-year-old Australian takes over from Brian Noble and will combine the coaching role with that of performance director, heading up the Rugby Football League's technical department at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Smith will initially be part-time with Great Britain and see out his Leeds contract, which expires at the end of the season.

But he is expected to be in charge for the Test match against France on the weekend of June 22-24 and will become full-time national coach at the end of the season.

His first big challenge will come in the autumn when Britain take on New Zealand in a three-match Test Series on home soil before taking charge of England for the 2008 World Cup in Australia.

Smith said: "It's a great honour to take on this role and one that I am relishing.

"This country has some of the best young players in the world and my job over the next two and a half years will be to develop this crop of players into the best team in the world.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my four seasons at Leeds and am proud of what I have achieved there.

"Fans of the club can rest assured that I will continue to give my all for the club until the end of the season, whilst at the same time starting with the Great Britain set-up."