YORK RI RUFC re-elected Fraser Land as club captain at their annual general meeting ahead of the new Yorkshire Four season which starts at Rotherham Phoenix on September 3.

Club coach Dan Coates is expecting the club's youth policy to bear fruit this season as younger players start to feed into the senior ranks.

Training takes place on Mondays at 7pm and new players are welcome.

Meanwhile, RI have been designated an o2 Touch Centre and will be running sessions on Friday evenings aimed at new or returning players with the emphasis on 'fun, inclusive activity and social fitness.'

o2 is for male and female players of all ages and each session will focus on rugby fitness and end with a game of touch.

Anyone interested should phone Coates on 07746 101984 for information.

RI’s ladies' team are on the look out for new players as they aim to improve on last season's runners-up spot in North Two East and will be running a pitch-up-and-play session on Saturday, August 6, at New Lane, Acomb.

The RI Ladies lost only one game last season and also enjoyed success in the Ripon Tens tournament.

Anyone interested in trying out women's rugby union or getting back into the game should turn up for an 11am start.

Weekly training sessions take place on Tuesdays from 7pm and new players are always welcome.

Meanwhile, club officials are hoping to announce the appointment of a full-time club development officer in the next couple of weeks. This will be a major investment for the club and will be focused on growing the youth section.

Interviews will be taking place next week to fill a void vacated by Jonny Stephenson's departure to the Rugby Football Union in Leeds.