Heworth ARLC duo Dan Briggs and Steve Barnard are set to don the Yorkshire jersey when the county side take on the touring Australian Aboriginals later this month.

The forwards have both been selected for the representative white rose amateur side for the forthcoming tour match, which will take place on Tuesday, October 29, at Wakefield Wildcats' Belle Vue ground.

Furthermore, the Yorkshire management team will again be an all-York affair, with Spen Allison, the British Amateur Rugby League Association vice-chairman, as manager and York-based Alfie Hill and Paul Higgins as coaches. York Acorn ARLC physiotherapist Jonty Thompson will also be the team's physio.

The Aboriginals - who have produced several Australian Rugby League stars in the past - will be taking on the three BARLA county sides, Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria, as well as the Combined Forces during their tour, the main focus of which is the two-Test series against BARLA Great Britain.

Allison said: "I think we've put together quite a strong squad despite the fact 13 first choice players are unavailable as they're in the GB squad."

As for the two York lads, he added: "I think Steve Barnard has been overlooked several times when he shouldn't have been, and I think he should have gone to France with the BARLA Great Britain squad earlier this year.

"He's 18-and-a-half stone and he's capable of 100 yards in close on 12 seconds, which for a big fellow is fantastic, and like most of the lads, he's a pleasure to work with.

"Dan Briggs has been playing well for Hunslet Hawks in the Northern Ford Premiership but he was still an amateur - he was signed on amateur forms - so is eligible. He's returned now to Heworth and there's no doubt he is a quality player."

The first Test between Great Britain and the Australian Aboriginals is on Sunday, October 27, at Robin Park Arena, Wigan, with the second Test on Sunday, November 3, at Mount Pleasant, Batley.

Updated: 11:02 Wednesday, October 16, 2002