This morning marked the return to the international scene of the Great Britain rugby league team and 20 years ago some of their biggest stars enjoyed the sights of the South Lakes.

Among the players to visit ahead of their Tri-Nations series with Australia and New Zealand were the Wigan trio of Andy Farrell, Dennis Betts and Mick Cassidy, Leeds pair Iestyn Harris and Adrian Morley and Bradford's James Lowes.

Cassidy went on to finish his career with Barrow Raiders and there was some local interest at the Merewood Country Hotel, on the banks of Windermere, in sisters Allie and Liz Kitchin, who both played for Barrow Ladies.

Great Britain internationals in their own right, the Kitchins were invited to the hotel to model the team's new kit, only to find out their male counterparts were staying there as part of a team-building exercise. To add to the surprise, they ended up joining them in such activities as orienteering, climbing and abseiling down trees and even building a raft to cross Windermere.

Back in 1999, women's rugby league didn't have the profile it is building in this day and age and Allie and Liz admitted the Super League big-hitters didn't really know who they were.

Liz said: "They just thought we were there for the photos."