THEY might be coming to York as potential enemies, but French rugby league club FC Lezignan-Corbieres XIII will have a lot in common with their hosts.

Nicknamed "the Wild Boars", the French first division side are one of two French teams who will feature in the York Golden Jubilee Rugby League Festival, which takes place on June 3 at Heworth ARLFC.

As revealed by the Evening Press, the prestigious nine-a-side tournament will see teams from all over the British Isles - including an all-York representative side - flock to the city to compete for the Fairfax Cup.

Also included are France's newest rugby league club, the Hussards de Paris Rugby League, and one of their oldest clubs, FC Lezignan-Corbieres. And the latter have many similarities with York's own professional outfit.

Like York Wasps, FC Lezignan-Corbieres are one of their country's oldest league clubs and, like Wasps, have been through tough times financially. And just like York in general, their city was blighted by a flood just over a year ago.

FC Lezignan-Corbieres XIII were formed in 1903, switching to rugby league in 1939 before being subject to the Vichy Government ban on league during the Second World War.

Returning to league after the war, they became one of France's leading clubs in the golden days of the 1960s and included in their ranks such famous names as the legendary Gilbert Benausse and internationals like Hughes Ratier and Thierry Valero.

Based in the famous Corbieres region, the town has just 8,000 inhabitants, but produces an enormous amount of wine. That wine came to their rescue during one difficult period some years ago when the club - the town's only professional sports club - made an appeal for donations of wine in order to buy players.

They suffered more misery just over 12 months ago when the local river flooded, swept away the club's dressing rooms and filled the ground and stand with five feet of mud.

At one stage the future of the club was in doubt as sponsors withdrew because they too suffered economically. But the town rallied - just like Wasps fans are doing now - and the Stade Moulin was rebuilt. The club are now riding high in the French First Division.

Meanwhile, Les Hussards de Paris Rugby League, a club named after the famous Hussars, or cavalry of Napoleon, will be taking part in competitive action for the first time in York.

The club was recently formed by two of Paris' sports personalities, executive director Arnaud Hautbois, an ex-player and former chief executive of the famous Racing Club de Paris Sports Club, and club president Rodolphe Pires, a charismatic television presenter.

The ambition of Les Hussards is not necessarily to give Paris a new Super League club, like the former PSG Rugby League, but to create a high profile club in the French capital to compete with France's own elite RL clubs, mostly based in the south west.

It will start life in the French second division in September, but the club's first taste of competition will be at York in June.

Updated: 12:02 Wednesday, April 17, 2002