THE organisers of the York International 9s have revealed the six teams who will head up the pools of this year's event -- and in a shock move, West Indies have been given a wildcard sixth seeded place.

The four semi-finalists from last year have been seeded alongside two wildcards, the West Indies and French outfit SO Avignon.

Fairfax Cup holders FC Lezignan-Corbieres will head up group one, with home side York Ironsides in group six. Russian big-hitters Strela Kazan will be in group four and the British Army in group three. West Indies are in group two and Avignon in group five.

The six invitational or foreign sides, including the much-fancied Academic Lions, are to be drawn into each pool, and then the remaining 12 teams will be placed in the groups via a free draw, which will take place in late May.

The event itself, the third York 9s, takes place over the weekend of June 26-27 at Heworth ARLC's Elm Park Way ground.

The draw for the finals series to take place on the Sunday will be staged at the Champions Reception on the Saturday evening and will see the six group winners from the qualifying series plus two best runners-up be drawn first and the Lord Mayor of York will then draw the other eight teams to join them in the last 16.

Tournament director Stefan Hopewel said: "We've seeded the teams based on last year's performance and this has resulted in what will be a very fiercely contested tournament."

The organisers have also revealed there will be an extra competition this year for the eight teams who are knocked out in the early stage of the Fairfax Cup.

The York 9s Plate will see the eight teams go into a straight knockout tournament, which will run concurrently to the main Fairfax Cup and the Shield Competition.

Updated: 09:33 Friday, May 07, 2004