GARETH Lloyd will be enjoying a taste of rugby Down Under this summer.

But the former Wasps centre is not about to embark on a playing career in Australia - he has won a national competition to follow the British Lions rugby union team on tour.

Lloyd, now playing for York's NFP rivals Gateshead Thunder, will be taking his girlfriend on the trip of a lifetime after winning the competition, run by dedicated rugby-wear company Canterbury of New Zealand.

The £3,000 prize includes return scheduled flights to Australia and all internal flights, nine nights' accommodation, tickets to the final two Test matches and all airport and match transfers.

The competition was run at Canterbury stores throughout the country. Lloyd entered the draw at their store in Grape Lane, York.

Lloyd will be jetting off to Oz on July 4 - not a bad end of season holiday!

He is pictured receiving his tickets from Michael Dodds, the ex-Scotland rugby union international, now the north of England sales representative for Canterbury, at the Canterbury store in Grape Lane.