York City Knights captain Richie Hayes has been granted a testimonial match in recognition of his services to rugby league and in particular the game in York.

The Rugby Football League usually grant testimonials to players who have spent ten consecutive years with or played 300 games for one club and, although Hayes is yet to break either mark, he has been given special dispensation to receive the notable award.

The 33-year-old has achieved legendary status for York RL, having played for the city's professional club in 12 of the last 16 seasons after making his debut in 1989, winning a host of individual awards in that time.

Hayes told the Evening Press: "Steve Ferres (Knights chief executive) said he would ask for it and he's come up trumps for me. I'm really pleased.

"Everybody has their own ideas of how you go, but I've always given 100 per cent."

The testimonial match - not part of a full testimonial year - is likely to be played at the end of this season, with the Knights hopeful of turning it into an end-of-term party. Hayes' former club, Hull KR, are being touted as possible opponents.

The workhorse prop, nicknamed Hoss, does not yet know whether he will hang up his boots after this season, but either way says he can look back on his career with pride.

"It takes a long time to get over games these days but never say never, it depends how I feel when the time comes." he said.

"It's nice to say you've won things in your career. Some of the players I've played with in the past and present are really top players and when you get an award when there are those players around you, it makes you feel proud."

Ferres said: "We asked for a testimonial game on Rich's behalf and it was granted.

"He has played for York for more than ten years in total and he would not have left the old club if it was not for the financial difficulties at the time.

"The RFL have acknowledged what Rich has done for the city of York and as an individual what he has brought to the game. If anybody is worthy of a testimonial it is Rich Hayes, they're made for people like him. We are delighted for him and he thoroughly deserves it."

Hayes, a product of York All Blacks, played four times for York at the end of 1988-89, establishing himself as a regular the next term. He stayed with York throughout their three name changes, from York to Ryedale-York to York Wasps before joining Hunslet for the 1998 and '99 seasons. He had won several player-of-the-year awards and Great Britain Under-21 caps with York and picked up an NFP Grand Final winners' medal with the Hawks.

He returned to Huntington Stadium for the 2000 season, playing 20 times and scooping the Evening Press player-of-the-year award again, before moving to Hull KR, where he picked up yet more individual honours, being named the Premiership's best prop last year and Rovers' player of the season, players' player and fanzine's player of the year in 2001.

He returned to his home-town club this season and has so far started every Knights match, one of only two players to have done so. Unsurprisingly, he is again challenging for individual honours, lying second in the Evening Press/Collier Plant Hire player-of-the-year standings.

In total he has played 280 games for York RL scoring nine tries.

Richie Hayes fact file:

Date of birth: 21/2/70

Position: prop

Career stats (Year, team, appearances, tries, individual awards)

1988-89 York 3+1 as sub, 0

1989-90 Ryedale-York 33+1, 0

1990-91 Ryedale-York 16+4, 1, Great Britain Under-21, York's 'man of the tour' to Russia

1991-92 Ryedale-York 27+2, 1

1992-93 Ryedale-York 24+2, 2 Evening Press player of the year, Supporters' player of the year

1993-94 Ryedale-York 33, 0 Players' player of the year

1994-95 Ryedale-York 30+1, 2

1995-96 York 18+1, 1, Evening Press player of the year

1996 York 20, 1, Evening Press player of the year

1997 York Wasps 20+1, 1, Evening Press player of the year

1997 Hull KR (on loan) 4+1, 0

1998 Hunslet Hawks 25+3, 1

1999 Hunslet Hawks 22+2, 0, NFP Grand Final winner

2000 York Wasps 20, 0, Evening Press player of the year

2000-01 Hull KR 26+1, 0, Players' player of the year, fanzine's player of the year

2001-02 Hull KR 34+1, 2, NFP prop of the year, Buddies Cup finalist

2003 York City Knights 23, 0 (so far)

Career total - 378+21 appearances, 12 tries

York total - 267+13 appearances, 9 tries

Updated: 11:06 Tuesday, July 22, 2003