LEIGH Paul-Rientoul will be away on 'international duty' this weekend.

The York Acorn coach has landed a short term assignment in Serbia as joint-coach of the Yorkshire Lionhearts - a team made up of amateurs from the Yorkshire Men's League.

Three of his own players are also going on the tour - Daniel Lazenby, Michael Embleton, and James Bromwich.

Over the next five days, the Lionhearts will be involved in two games against Belgrade and the Serbian national side.

In between times, they are also taking part in coaching sessions with local children.

It is the second consecutive summer that the Lionhearts, supported by the Rugby Football League, have headed into Europe on tour.

Last summer, the squad - which included York's Tony Shepherd and Martin McTigue - visited Ukraine and played in Kiev's Spartak Stadium.

Not only will this summer's trip serve to spread the rugby league gospel to a wider audience - but it will also help Serbia in their preparations for World Cup qualifiers.

"Anything that helps develop the game is a good thing," said Paul-Rientoul, who will be working alongside Lee Bettinson of Sharlston Rovers.

"We are not just going there to play, we are going into local schools and coaching the kids," he added.

"I have been on tours to other countries as a player but this is a different challenge as a coach because you are not just looking after yourself, you are looking after 20 different blokes, and some of them are older than me.

"But we have met up a few times for training ahead of the trip and everyone has been getting on well," he said.

The Lionhearts play Belgrade on Saturday before taking on the Serbian national team on Monday.