SECONDARY schools in the York region are to benefit more than ever this school year from York City Knights' rugby league development programme.

The Knights' first Sportsmatch scheme, which ran over the past three years, concentrated on bringing tag rugby to primary schools in the region and proved a massive hit - so much so that 90 schools in York and Selby took part in recent tag festival tournaments.

The club are hoping to continue that scheme through money brought in by the new York City Knights Foundation, a registered charity which aims to expand the club's community development work.

Moreover, a new Sportsmatch agreement - thanks to £50,000 sponsorship from Phoenix Software - will see them launch a new "Tag to Tackle" programme aimed at secondary schools, particularly Years 7 and 8.

Officially launched tomorrow at the Knights' game against Rochdale, this involves helping youngsters progress from tag to full contact rugby.

Knights community development chief Jason Ramshaw said: "Virtually every kid that now goes into secondary school will have had some kind of tag rugby coaching from us. This new programme will help to improve their skills and see players progress into contact rugby league."

The Knights have already worked with secondary schoolchildren - for example, ahead of the national Powergen Champion Schools tournament - but this new funding will enable them to take it further.

Ramshaw, who is also assistant to first-team boss Mick Cook, added: "A lot of the schools are proactive but a lot don't specialise in rugby league itself and don't have the necessary resources. This scheme will help us to help them."

Pocklington-based Phoenix Software already provides sponsorship to employ Ian Wilson as a North Yorkshire Service Area cocordinator and development officer, and was right behind this new scheme.

Wilson was grateful for their support and added: "Over the past few years the number of primary school children playing rugby league has been phenomenal and I'm sure we can achieve similar results in the secondary schools.

"We also hope the new scheme will provide local clubs with more players as more secondary school children experience full contact rugby."

The Knights' first Sportsmatch scheme, which brought tag rugby to primary schools, finished in the last school year. Aware they would be unlikely to get more Sportsmatch money for the same scheme, the club launched their Foundation earlier this year to aid this primary schools project and other community work.

Explained Ramshaw: "It's difficult to get a repeat award from Sportsmatch. They want a development programme from it and this (secondary school) programme means we can continue youngsters' development."

As for the primary school tag, he added: "It is an issue because there's no more (Sportsmatch) funding for it. But we didn't want to build it up for three years just to stop it. There will be some kind of programme, though what level depends on funding.

"We are looking at making bids for other kinds of funding, through, for example, the National Sports Foundation. We also want to attract sponsors for our community development work to fund part of our primary school activity.

"Any money that comes into the Knights' Foundation will go directly towards work in the community.

"It doesn't necessarily need one company to bring in all the money; this Foundation enables smaller companies to be involved and sponsor parts of it."

The YCK Foundation's registered charity number is 1112571, and any companies wanting further details of sponsorship possibilities can call Jason Ramshaw at the Knights on 01904 758234.