AN innovative rugby league tournament, hoped to one day rival rugby union's famous Middlesex Sevens, is in the pipeline - and York is favourite to host it.

The Evening Press can reveal that the former chief executive of Super League outfit London Broncos, Lionel Hurst, is leading an organisation determined to establish a fan-friendly rugby league event to be based in the Minster city.

The plan is to invite clubs from all over England and possibly the world to compete annually in the nine-a-side tournament.

It is hoped the likes of Super League giants Bradford, Wigan, St Helens and Leeds would one day sign up.

Just as the Middlesex Sevens sees the union code cut down to seven-a-side matches, the games in this proposed rugby league competition would be nine-a-side - meaning there would be more space, more speed, more tries and more entertainment for the supporters.

Hurst and a number of other business-minded rugby league fanatics have launched a new organisation called 1895 International, named after the year in which the breakaway rugby league was formed.

And it is through this group - formed with the intention of increasing the sport's worldwide appeal - that they plan to create a "Grand Prix Nines" series, the first of which will be the "England Nines", to be held next summer.

"Myself and a number of other businessmen have launched 1895 International, and the thrust of the organisation is to see the sport realise its major potential throughout the world," Hurst told the Evening Press.

"A number of key projects will be supported, both logistically and with funding, and one of the things to be introduced is a series of Grand Prix Nines events.

"The first one that will come off the production line is the England Nines, which will be an annual glamorous event, a blue ribbon event with prize-money, a proper structure, etc.

"The aim is to launch it next year, favourably on the Bank Holiday Sunday, August 25.

"The target city to host it is the great old city of York.

"We are in discussions with a number of people in the city as to what would be the best venue and we're looking at a number of options."

Wigan Warriors famously stole the Middlesex Sevens trophy from under the noses of union's big boys in 1996.

Even if it needed proving, that conquest demonstrated that rugby league clubs can put on as good a show as - if not better than - union teams when it comes to small-sided games.

"Principally the aim is to see the game spread and grow," said Hurst, a Cheltenham-based lawyer.

"We want to draw on clubs throughout the rugby league world, not just the hard-core areas.

"Seeing teams like Glasgow, Cork and perhaps Russian sides come in would be great, while the likes of Wigan and St Helens could come into it as it progresses."

He envisaged a healthy presence from within the host city for the competition."

"It's also vital that there is a strong York presence on the playing side.

"York has famous amateur clubs like Heworth, Acorn, All Blacks, Groves and there is, of course, the Wasps, plus the University side.

"They might want to be part of it in one way or another."

He added: "York is one of the older rugby league towns - we want to preserve the game's heritage but we realise we must spread the gospel as well.

"Hopefully this tournament will become very much a part of the sporting calendar in York."

Updated: 10:36 Wednesday, December 05, 2001