Schools across Yorkshire have been invited to field teams in this year's Yorkshire Water Rugby League Nines.

A record 1,300 year-seven boys and girls from almost 70 schools took part last year and organisers are hoping to top that this time.

"Rugby League as a sport has just reported a 94 per cent increase in players over the last two years and we are hoping this year's tournament will inspire even more youngsters to give the sport a go," said the RFL's David Raybould.

This year's competition begins during the week of Monday, October 11. A series of festivals will decide which eight boys' and girls' teams progress to the next round at South Leeds Stadium in November, where they will battle for a place in the final.

Last year's boys' final was played at The Boulevard in Hull ahead of Great Britain's Test match against Australia at the nearby KC Stadium, where the victors, Wakefield's Outwood Grange, paraded their trophy in front of the crowd at half-time. The winning girls' team from Bradford's Queensbury High did the same after their game at the final Ashes Test match at Huddersfield's McAlpine Stadium.

Weather permitting, this year's boys' final will be at the KC ahead of Great Britain's clash with New Zealand in the Gillette Tri Nations Tournament on Saturday, November 20.

The girls' final will be staged ahead of the Tri Nations final at Elland Road on Saturday, November 27.

Updated: 10:45 Friday, September 10, 2004