Organisers of the third annual York International 9s rugby league tournament have revealed that breakfast cereal makers Frosties are to support the newly created York 9s Community Programme.

The programme will run concurrently to the York 9s and is also supported by Sportsmatch, Breakaway Tours and City of York Council.

The growth of the York 9s, which now consists of 24 teams and will take place on June 26-27, means its sister tournament for schools, the Marston Moor Cup, which now features more than 30 teams, will move to the weekend following the main event, extending the festival through to July 4.

Included in the community programme is the Canterbury Cup, which will see four under-11 teams from across Yorkshire compete in a full contact competition on the morning of the Finals Series on day two of the York 9s.

The community programme will see rugby coaches visit several areas of the city in the run-up to the tournament to introduce children to rugby league, using the rugby league SkillZone, which features skills tests including an interactive 'Passometer', measuring the speed and accuracy of a pass.

The programme will also see the coaches present awards to children who take part and provide equipment for RL coaches to use in the school holidays throughout the city.

Organiser Stefan Hopwell said the inclusion of Frosties as a partner to the tournament was "a key indicator of the growing status of the York 9s".

"Frosties have recently launched the nationwide 'Earn Your Stripes' scheme with the Football Association and the Football in the Community Scheme and to recruit one of the biggest brand names in the UK to the York 9s shows the tournament is attracting partners of the highest calibre," he said.

Updated: 10:50 Friday, May 28, 2004