YORK Wasps stars are set to grace the city's representative side at the forthcoming York Golden Jubilee Rugby League Festival.

The Yorkshire BARLA management trio of Spen Allison, Alfie Hill and Paul Higgins have now been confirmed as team chiefs, and they have selected a provisional squad of 26 to don the York Ironsides colours.

And included among the squad - to be whittled down to 12 nearer the date - are former Leeds Rhinos youngster Jonny Liddell and improving second-row Carl Barrow.

The Ironsides, made up of players from every one of York's senior clubs, will be going for glory in the prestigious nine-a-side tournament to be held at Heworth ARLC's Elm Park Way ground on Bank Holiday Monday, June 3.

The team will be taking on invitation sides from all over Britain as well as big-guns from France, FC Lezignan-Corbieres and Les Hussards de Paris Rugby League.

And to have the likes of Liddell in the squad will be a big boost. The young stand-off is yet to decide his future following the closure of the Wasps but has said he would consider staying at Huntington Stadium should the new-look club be readmitted to the league.

In the meantime, he has said he would link up with the Ironsides at forthcoming training sessions, which begin on Wednesday at New Earswick sports ground (6.30pm).

The city's side have been drawn to face the Army, Dublin Blues and Royal Air Force in the group stage, with the winners and runners-up in each of the four pools qualifying for to the quarter-finals.

And manager Allison reckons the home side should go through. "I'm quite pleased with the draw," he said.

"I think we can progress to the quarter-finals and take it from there. It won't be easy, though.

"I think the two French teams, who could be fully professional sides, will be strong. They won't be averse to playing one or two Aussies and I think they will probably dominate."

York Ironsides

Manager: Spen Allison.

Coaches: Alfie Hill, Paul Higgins.

Physio: Jonti Thompson.

Train-on squad: Steve Barnard, Nikki Wilson, Jason Kane, Mark Green, Nathan Witty, John Coulson, Brendan Carlyle, Gavin Grant, Sam Clark, Dave Carling, Wayne Foster (all Heworth ARLC); John Hough, Alan Willitts, John Waldron, Lee Frank, Michael Embleton, Danny Liddell (all York Acorn); Simon Moat, Martin Simpson, Paul Scott (all York Groves); Jo Hnesh (New Earswick All Blacks); Jon Liddell, Peter Fox, Michael Harrison, Carl Barrow, Lee Paterson.

Updated: 11:32 Monday, April 29, 2002