THE York International 9s rugby league tournament has continued to grow in stature with the news two more National League clubs are confirmed entrants.

York City Knights have already announced they will enter a team and they will now be joined by rivals Featherstone Rovers and Batley Bulldogs.

The two clubs bring with them an abundance of cup history.

Originally known as the Gallant Youths, Batley won the sport's first-ever Challenge Cup final in 1897 when defeating St Helens 10-3 and repeated the feat in 1898 and 1901 to be the kings of cup rugby in its early years.

Featherstone also have three such triumphs to their name, having won rugby's most famous domestic trophy in 1967, 1973 and 1983.

Batley showed knockout nous last year, too, when beating Dewsbury in the play-off final thriller to keep their place in National League One, while Rovers are one of the favourites to lift the National League Two title this summer after being relegated last season.

Both will now make their debuts in the York 9s at Heworth on Saturday, July 15.

One man in the Batley Bulldogs ranks to look out for is Craig Lingard, who set a new club record of 125 tries with one in the National One win at Doncaster Lakers on Sunday.

Batley chairman Kevin Nicholas said: "The club, though extremely proud of its rich heritage, is always prepared to explore new horizons. It should be a great event for our players, fans and sponsors."

Batley coach Gary Thornton said: "The nine-a-side version of rugby league is skilful and fast and should suit our style of play. We are going to York to enjoy ourselves but also to win the Fairfax Cup."

Kevin Hobbs, football manager at Featherstone, said: "The club is very progressive and always keen to involve itself in new ventures. The York 9s is now a much anticipated feature of the rugby league calendar.

"We had no hesitation in accepting an invitation to play in the Fairfax Cup and we've offered general assistance to the organisers in other areas if required."

Founded in 2002 as part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations, the York Festival is the top 9s event in Europe.

Other confirmed entrants include Barrie McDermott's Ambassadors, the Knights, representative 9s side the York Ironsides, French clubs Toulouse, Lyon and Lezignan, and the British Army.

A meeting between Featherstone and York Ironsides could prove mouth-watering as the Ironsides' joint-coach this year is former Great Britain and Featherstone favourite Paul Newlove, whose father, John, lifted the Challenge Cup as Rovers captain and two-try hero in 1973.

The draw for the group games will be made in June. The festival will comprise the Fairfax Cup on Saturday, July 15 and the Archbishop Dolben Cup for development sides on Sunday, July 16.

Updated: 11:19 Wednesday, May 17, 2006