THE official name for the new York rugby league club will be revealed by the Evening Press tomorrow.

The new name has stirred up a lot of debate among fans, with the 'York RL name competition', run in conjunction with the Evening Pres, bringing in a massive response.

Readers were asked to suggest what they thought was the best name and why. All names proposed have now been passed on by the Evening Press sports desk to club chiefs, who were tonight deciding on which to adopt.

The person who suggested the chosen name will win a new club shirt for the forthcoming season. If two or more people suggested the chosen name, the winner will be picked out of a hat.

Some of the names suggested include:

York Dukes ('it's a unique name and the team can run onto the pitch to the tune of 'Grand Old Duke of York');

City of York RLFC, aka The Dukes ('the club name and nickname are unique in any sport. It's an ideal marketing opportunity');

York Vikings ('York Rugby are coming back, we are coming to your town to battle hard and take our rewards with strength and courage being our weapons');

York Phoenix/York City Phoenix ('the club has risen out of the ashes');

York Romans/York City Romans (because 'the Romans typified the city of York and its inhabitants - intelligent and civilised but tough and not to be messed with');

York City Highwaymen (based on Dick Turpin who was famously hanged at York);

York Citizens ('This name would show the club has the community at its heart and that without the loyal citizens of our fair city there would be no Rugby League in York);

York Rural Monks;

York Patriots (because 'a patriot is a person who vigorously supports a cause');

York City Warriors;

York Rockets ('it connects the club with the National Railway Museum where Stephenson's Rocket is housed');

York Knights ('South Sydney Rabbits have Russell Crowe as a fan, York

have Mark Addy, who was in the film First Knight, which also has a great Queen soundtrack';

City of York Knights ('knights - white knights - would represent all the people who donated money or joined membership/season tickets to establish a rugby club in York again');

York Dreadnaughts ('it conjures up images of power, speed and courage and is far more original than Vikings. Also, York were often known as the Dreadnoughts in the 1930s when they were one of the top clubs');

York City Blazers ('a new club trailblazing into the league with a big impact, led by a suitably named mascot, Capt Blazer');

Locomotiv York ('because of York's links with the railways and it sounds cool');

York Gladiators ('it represents York's Roman history, and conjures up images of strength, power and mighty battles. A Gladiator was a man trained to fight in arenas to provide entertainment. There's also the possibility of re-naming the Huntington Stadium The Colosseum').

York City TYKES ('because we are the CAPITAL of Yorkshire);

York City Phantoms ('because it's a dream come true and York has been named the most haunted city in Europe);

York City Cavaliers (because of the history of York);

York City Eagles ('it's a high-flying bird of prey and is a Roman symbol of power');

York City Terriers RLFC ('an instantly recognisable Yorkshire icon symbolising dogged determination');

York White Rose RLFC ('York is the capital of Yorkshire and a white rose could be emblazoned on the shirts).

Updated: 12:27 Tuesday, September 10, 2002