A RUGBY league charity was the big winner at the York International Nines when the new Fairfax Cup champions, Barrie McDermott's Ambassadors, donated all of the prize money to the good cause.

The £2,000 went to the Brennan Rooney Fund, a charity set up for Wakefield Trinity star Jamie Rooney's son, who has cerebral palsy.

The Ambassadors, featuring a few ex-Great Britain heroes - including York City Knights legend Lee Jackson - alongside some academy players from Leeds Rhinos and amateurs, beat Dewsbury Rams 20-8 in the final.

York's two entrants in the eight-team tournament, last year's winners the Knights and York Ironsides, the representative team of York-based amateurs, were both beaten in the semi-finals.

Jackson, who scored a try in the Ambassadors' controversial semi-final win over the Knights and drop-kicked two conversions in the final, had to borrow his son James' boots to play.

"I loved it, I always do," he said, about getting back on the field. "Barrie said to come down and enjoy it and that's what we've done. I missed the Plate final last year, so it was great to play in the main final this time. We didn't expect to win."

The Ambassadors finished with a 100 per cent record, though there was a doubt they would be allowed into the final after allegedly finishing the 18-14 semi-final win over the Knights with ten men on the field after a substitution mix-up.

The festival, which also saw British Police beat the Royal Navy 10-4 in the Archbishop Dolben Cup, was watched by an estimated 1,700 fans.

  • Don't miss our round-up of the Marston Moor Cup finals for school teams in Saturday's Park Life.