Rugby: Aussies fly off without Anderson

Australia’s Ashes-winning rugby league team will fly home to Sydney tomorrow without coach Chris Anderson, who is recovering in a British hospital from a heart attack.

48-year-old Anderson, well known in the English game from his spells with Widnes, Hull KR and Halifax, was rushed to Wigan Infirmary on Saturday night after complaining of chest pains during the first half of the Guinness Test series decider at the JJB Stadium.

It was later confirmed that he had suffered a heart attack, just four days after being released from Leeds General Infirmary, where he spent 24 hours undergoing tests.

Anderson, whose brother died of a heart attack at the age of 49, will be joined shortly in Britain by his wife Leanne.

The team are due to fly out of Manchester tomorrow afternoon following the completion of the first Ashes series for seven years.

Australia beat Great Britain 28-8 in the deciding Test to secure a 2-1 series triumph, their 12th in a row since Britain’s last success in 1970.

Captain Brad Fittler and assistant coach Greg Pierce stepped in to deliver the

half-time pep talk.

Anderson, a former Kangaroo winger who won eight caps and toured Britain in 1978 and with the ‘‘Invincibles’’ four years later, has been in charge of the national team since 1998.

He guided Australia to the 1999 Tri-Nations Series and the 2000 World Cup.

Formerly with Canterbury Bulldogs, he quit Melbourne Storm, the 1999 NRL champions, earlier this year to join Cronulla Sharks.

In England, he helped Widnes to victory in the 1975 Challenge Cup final at Wembley and guided Halifax to both Challenge Cup and Championship glory in his three seasons at Thrum Hall.

Last week he was installed in the Halifax Hall of Fame after attending a reunion at the club.