YORK Acorn ARLC boss Leigh Paul-Rientoul has spoken of his pride after he and Reece Rushworth were selected for the BARLA Great Britain tour to Fiji later this year.

Paul-Rientoul, who led Yorkshire to the BARLA Tri-Series triumph last year, travels as assistant-coach to Cumbria's Gary Hewer, while Acorn back-rower Rushworth, brother of York City Knights star Joe Porter, has been named in the playing party.

The tour takes place from November 9 to 25, with one warm-up match taking place in Nadi before the two-Test series follows in Suva.

Paul-Rientoul has toured with BARLA - the British Amateur Rugby League Association - as a player before, going to Russia in 2007, Ukraine in 2009 and 2010 and Dubai in 2011, representing the under-21s, U23s and open age teams. He has since coached the Yorkshire Men's League representative team on a tour to Serbia in 2016 and York & District squad in Ukraine last year.

He said: "Coaching Yorkshire was probably my proudest moment in representative rugby league, in addition to the York & District honours.

"To now be involved with the BARLA open age team - without first doing the age groups - and to go to the South Pacific on one of the biggest tours that BARLA do, for me is massive. It's the biggest thing I've ever done.

"I'm really proud for myself and for Reece, and also for Acorn and York & District as well."

Rushworth, Acorn's player of the year last term, earned his call-up after standing out for Yorkshire in the Tri-Series.

Paul-Rientoul said: "He fully deserves it. He can see what his brother has achieved at the Knights after going there from Acorn and he'll have that in the back of his mind, wanting a piece of it too. This is a great stepping stone to maybe getting involved in semi-pro rugby.

"He never misses training and he does a lot of extras as well. He stood out for Yorkshire and I wouldn't be surprised if York are keeping their eye on him - especially if they get another Joe Porter out of it."

The tour is self-funded and, while Acorn will be staging fundraisers to help the pair each raise the £2,500 they need, anyone interested in sponsorihgggg them can phone Paul-Rientoul on 07854 378293.

Meanwhile, Acorn continue their National Conference League division one campaign tomorrow night with a trip to Ince Rose Bridge (7.30pm).

The game has been brought forward from Saturday due to Super League's Magic Weekend over the weekend and means players may have to finish work early but Paul-Rientoul is hopeful only Ryan Price will be rendered unavailable - and he has a shoulder injury anyway.

Tom Hill is available again as a like-for-like swap in the pack.

The Blue and Golds are looking to end their three-match losing streak against a side with just one win to their name this term.

Said Paul-Rientoul: "Attacking-wise we're looking okay but the defence is something we're going to have to work on. We've just been too soft and aren't getting enough numbers in the collision.

"Ince Rose Bridge aren't do great. The odds are against us, going over there on a Friday, but we can get the points if we turn up and work on what we need to do."

York Lokomotive have also switched their Yorkshire Men's League division three game at Kippax Welfare - to tonight (7.30pm).

Sticking with Saturday (2.30pm), New Earswick All Blacks host Lindley Swifts in the YML premier division and Acorn 'A' entertain Queensbury in division one, with both York sides looking to get off the mark this term.

Heworth have no game but their 'A' team go St Joseph's in division five while New Earswick Academy host Wetherby Bulldogs.