THERE'S a host of new faces for the Railwaymen as York RI RUFC prepare to begin a new life in Yorkshire Two.

Derbies with Pocklington and Selby await over the coming campaign as RI look for a season of consolidation following their promotion from Yorkshire Three last year.

That's not stopped club chiefs from bolstering the squad with a series of new signings over the summer break.

But it's the return of influential Australian centre Michael Tyrpenou which has club chiefs smiling widest, with the player sure to play a key role at the start of the campaign.

Elsewhere, scrum half Gary Pigeon has signed from Heath, while wing forward Matthew Weingarth and fly half Ben Towler join from Luton and Chester respectively.

Ben Hobson and Tim Thomas have returned to New Lane following a trip to New Zealand, while prop forward Chris Shine joins established players Karl Hart and Robin Grice to give coach Nic Humphries a "strong first team squad", said club spokesman Nigel Lowery.

"We want to survive. It's a season of consolidation, but we are also optimistic," Lowery said. "We've got a good squad. Players are coming to the club and we hope a couple more will sign in the next two weeks."

RI begin their season away at Old Brodlieans in the first round of the Yorkshire Shield tomorrow, while they open their league account at home to Barnsley on September 9 Meanwhile, York RUFC get back into action for the first time with an away trip to Ilkley in the first round of the Yorkshire Shield.

The game will be fly-half Carl Paterson's first since taking on the captaincy from former skipper Andy Kay, but it's a XV which shows little change to the side which finished disappointingly in mid-table in Yorkshire One.

Kiwi prop Cory Wallace has returned to Clifton Park to ensure York continue to have strength in the pack, while Paterson and scrum half Graeme Smith hope to re-forge their successful half-back combination which was broken up towards the end of last season.

Ian Davies starts at number 8, with Kay at seven. Sam Arkle and Rob Taylor are the starting centres.

Pocklington are on Shield duty at Sandal in the first meeting between the two clubs for over 20 years, with Sandal having spent much of the intervening time at higher levels in the game. They were a national league side just a few years ago but have been relegated three times in the last five years.

Also on the road in the same competition are Malton & Norton, who are at Redcar, and Selby, who go to Wheatley Hills.

Young scrum-half Dan Cattle is poised to start for Malton, while winger Philip Pateman and flanker Gary Dolman have also been promoted to the first team squad from the colts.

Full-back Cameron Madden has been recruited from Australian club Bowral.