However, who made the decision and on what basis? According to the media reports, a group of five senior players in the squad initially voiced concerns regarding the tour and in the next 24 hours convinced a further seven to their point of view. With the 24-man squad split 50-50, the ARL decided to abide by their players' wishes and cancel the tour.

Australian captain, Brad Fittler, said that while they weren't concerned with being attacked in transit, they were concerned that if the situation in Afghanistan - in which Great Britain has been a major player - were to escalate they may be trapped in England for an extended period of time away from friends and family.

That opinion is obviously based on the tragic events in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania on September 11, when four planes were hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. From that point all air travel was suspended for almost a week, preventing anyone from getting to America, and preventing anyone from leaving.

Evidently the players fear that this is a possible scenario in Britain. Evidently the players haven't been kept up on past history.

The 1939 Kangaroos arrived in Britain and played just two games when World War II broke out. Bear in mind that war was fought in western Europe, not half a world away in Afghanistan. The players evacuated England and returned home safe and sound.

In the past 62 years, transportation has improved incredibly and the odds of being trapped in England for any length of time are next to nil. Even if every airport was shut down in the United Kingdom, it's only a short ferry ride to France, or even Ireland where there are ample flights out of there.

It's also important to look at other sporting teams and individuals and how they are dealing with it. Australian Squash representatives just returned from a tournament in Qatar, just a couple of hundred kilometres from the Afghan border. The Australian Wallabies are at this stage still touring Europe in the coming weeks. Australian tennis players are still competing in tournaments throughout Europe.

Even more incredible is that the Australian Under-16 and Police Rugby League squads are about to leave for England unchanged. The parents of the young Australian footballers apparently see no danger in sending them - or at least, on serious danger.

Beyond the sporting arena, tourists are still arriving in the UK with no more anxiety than usual. I depart for England in just over a week with my soon-to-be wife. I hold no greater fears than I usually feel when getting on a plane.

Just because everyone else is still happy to travel to England doesn't mean the Kangaroos have to go, that is for certain. However, we still do not know who advised them against it. According to the Australian High Commission in London, it wasn't them. They are not issuing any warnings to Australians travelling to the UK and say it is business as usual. Not to mention the millions of people who live and work in London everyday, unaffected by what's gone on in the United States and Afghanistan.

On a less personal side, the game of Rugby League in England is facing a massive crisis as a result of the Australians' decision. Already they have outlay something in the order of $8 million promoting and organising the tour. Stadium hire, ticket sales, advertising, catering, all the expenses that go along with organising such an event are flushed down the proverbial toilet. They don't offer refunds.

The Australian Rugby League, at the very least, should be asked to foot the bill for half of those lost fees. The New Zealand Rugby League has stepped up to the plate and offered to organise a lightning Test series in Britain. They already have a tour planned for 2002 and unlike Australia, where despite the dramas in the game of the past six years they still have money, the Kiwis understand the turmoil the English game faces.

Who really runs the ARL? Colin Love? Geoff Carr? Or is it Brad Fittler? He, Andrew Johns, Robbie Kearns and Broncos players Shane Webcke and Darren Lockyer were the main objectors to travelling. If the ARL were running a tight ship they would have offered to let those players stay and replace them with men willing to go. Darren Britt, David Peachey, Preston Campbell, Martin Lang and Adam Dykes would have loved a call-up.

There is a responsibility on players representing their country to do so unless it truly is above and beyond the call of duty. In their eyes, travelling to the UK now is just that. To many it needs to be proven.

They could just as easily come under a terrorist attack here in Australia. They could just as easily be killed in a car accident on the way to training at their clubs. They have cancelled a tour with vital importance to Rugby League on the world stage because something might happen. To me, that isn't a good enough reason.

I understand how they would feel being away from their families if something happened. I understand how their families would feel. The Australian Government doesn't think there's a significant risk. The British Government doesn't think there's a significant risk. The only people who do seem to be a select group of players.

What is the goal of terrorists? To spread fear and terror to affect the way their enemies live their lives. By cancelling this tour, by changing the way they are living their lives, they are giving these terrorists victory.

It is a great shame. The English Rugby League are still frantically trying to encourage the Australians to reconsider. For the sake of Rugby League, I hope they do.