ANY fears that York Wasps Rugby League Club might have about attracting players should be dashed by the fact they are being actively sought out by young and eager players.

While the 1999-2000 season will be mainly remembered for a battle for the club to survive and a struggle to compete on the field, the way forward for the Wasps is young talent and the young talent seems keen to take the chance.

The interest is coming from far afield, as the club have been contacted by an up-and-comer from Queensland called Michael Close.

Close, who can play half back or in the centre, has e-mailed a request from the other side of the world to be given a trial at Huntington Stadium.

His CV suggests that the Wasps may want to take a chance on the young Australian.

His clubs have included Adelaide and North Sydney Bears and he is currently on the books of East Brisbane, while representative honours have come at age group levels up to 18-19s with Australia and New South Wales.

And his references also should spark an interest in the Wasps camp as he numbers one-time block-busting prop Brian Heatherington, who played in Great Britain during the late 1980s and early 1990s with Halifax, and former Australian international star Arthur Beetson among his coaches over the years.