YORK students Anthony Howcroft and Dan Briggs will be hoping to return from Russia with medals having been selected to travel with an England squad taking part in a groundbreaking European tournament.

The little known city of Kazan, in Tatarstan - an 11-hour train ride from Moscow - will host rugby league's European Student Championships in a move designed to up the profile of the sport in Russia, and the two 21-year-olds have been picked for the England squad.

York-based Tony Gargan also heads out to Russia as manager of the team, who will be one of the favourites to win the trophy.

Gargan was also on the selection committee for the squad. "I've coached them both before, at York Academy, and I've known them for a few years. We had about 70 people go for the trials but they came through."

Half-back cum hooker Howcroft, who has played for England and Great Britain Students before, returns to Nottingham University in October after a year out, while utility forward Briggs is a student at York College.

However, the duo, who both play for Heworth, need to raise £375 in sponsorship before the squad fly out on September 3 in order to finance the trip. The two-week ten-team tournament, including sides from Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France among others, starts the day after.

Anyone interested in offering sponsorship should call Tony Gargan on 01904 790489.

Updated: 12:00 Saturday, July 28, 2001