A NEW era in international rugby league will kick off at New Earswick All Blacks next week when the West Indies play their first ever 13-a-side match.

The Windies, fresh from their debut York 9s win in June, are launching their Rugby League Yorkshire Development Tour at the ground before going on to play in Leeds, Bradford, Hull and Sheffield, funding permitting.

Stars of the team include skipper Danny Mills, who plays for Sheffield Eagles and Hunslet Hawks man Jermaine Wray, as well as New Earswick's very own Matt Godfrey, while former York player Dean Thomas is the man at the helm.

Thomas said: "It seemed fitting after our York 9s victory to start the tour in York."

The programme has been drawn up as a way of increasing participation in the sport which recently announced that figures playing have doubled in the last few years, while also breaking down social exclusion barriers by getting people involved.

The opening game will see the two sides go head-to-head for the Polar Ford Cup, while off the field, West Indies replica shirts will be on sale alongside New Earswick merchandise in another first.

New Earswick spokesman Mark Tipping added "It's an honour to host the Windies' first ever 13-a-side match. It will be our first pre-season match and it should be a fast, exciting game and we are hopeful of good weather and a good crowd."

The match will kick off on Saturday, August 14, at 2pm with an under-nine junior match going ahead at 1pm as a curtain raiser to the main event.

Entry is £3 for adults - to include a souvenir brochure - with OAPs £1 and under-16s free.

Following the match, an auction will be held with items including a signed West Indies jersey and a mountain of other merchandise all up for grabs, while a raffle in aid of injured rugby league player Danny Scott will also take place.

Updated: 10:52 Thursday, August 05, 2004