THE teams who make it through to the last 16 of this weekend's York International 9s will be offered automatic qualification to the 2004 tournament as organisers begin planning for next year's event, writes Peter Martini.

Twenty-six teams from all over Europe will descend on Heworth ARLC's Elm Park Way ground this Saturday and Sunday in the second annual York 9s.

The 16 teams who progress from the group stage will receive official invitations immediately after the tournament, and will have three months to signal their intentions to organisers and the European Rugby League Federation.

The tournament will comprise 24 teams in 2004, with the final eight places open to application from any other team.

Tournament director Jeremy Coupland said: "I expect all of the teams will fancy their chances of making it through to the last 16 and this means the games will be ultra competitive as the teams chase both a place in the knock-out stages and a place in next year's competition."

Coupland added the tournament has already had interest for places in 2004. "One or two teams were interested in coming this year but decided it might be better to aim for next year," he said.

"We can safely say we will have more than eight countries represented in the tournament next year and we expect to have more entries for the last eight places than are available."

Updated: 11:29 Wednesday, June 18, 2003