THE Rugby League International Federation has voted to revive the World Sevens Tournament and to create an International Club Championship in its release of a five-year calendar of major events.

After a two day meeting in Sydney this week, the Federation has reinforced its intention to strengthen international competition. Australian Rugby League Chairman and NRL Partnership Chairman, Colin Love, has been elected Chairman of the Federation, with Great Britain's Maurice Lindsay Vice-Chairman. NRL Chief Executive David Gallop was reinstated as Secretary and Treasurer.

"The return of a Great Britain team to Australia this season, for the first time in 10 years, and the revival of the Kangaroo Tour last year are signs of the work that is taking place," Mr Love said.

"There is much still to be done but the commitment from Nations like England, France, PNG, Ireland, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and interestingly Russia (where there are some 8,000 registered players) is very encouraging.

"We believe the five-year calendar that we have arrived at over the last two days will provide a tremendous infrastructure around which other international matches can operate.

"The reinstatement of the World Sevens and an International Club Championship in 2004 will provide enormous opportunity to showcase the game."

Under the Calendar released today, the World Sevens would make a return at the start of the 2003 Australian season in Australia.

The Sevens and the World Club Challenge (between the Premiers of the English Super League and the Telstra Premiership) would precede each Australian season in the five-year calendar.

In 2003, Great Britain will play a mid-season Test against New Zealand, and Australia will play a one off Test against the Kiwis before embarking on a (three-test) Kangaroo tour of Great Britain.

The 2004 season would see the World Club Challenge, the World Sevens, Australia against Great Britain in July and Australia against New Zealand in October.

England would then host the new International World Club Championship featuring eight teams, four from the UK, three from the Telstra Premiership and the New Zealand Warriors as the premier club in New Zealand.

"It's an exciting concept which by 2004 should produce an intense level of competition," Mr Love said.

The World Cup will return in 2005 in Great Britain, with Australia having played New Zealand midway through that season.

2006 would see Great Britain again touring Australia and New Zealand mid-season.

"There will of course be other internationals featuring PNG, France, Russia, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and the Pacific Island nations, but there is now a strong long term programme around which they can be planned," Mr Love said.

"The international side of the game will grow once more and the commitment from the delegates here over the last few days suggests a bright future.

"Great Britain, New Zealand, PNG, France, Tonga, Samoa, BARLA (British Amateur Rugby League) the New Zealand Maoris and Fiji all and Russia appointing Australian based delegates.

"It is anticipated that the five-year programme will be adopted as a "rolling schedule" for future years to provide a degree of certainty around the international calendar.