YORK Acorn ARLC ace Joe Budd will run out at Headingley next month as part of the Great Britain Community Lions side that plays in a curtain-raiser to England’s mid-season international.

England take on an Exiles side featuring the best overseas players in Super League in a new-fangled International Origin Match, on Friday, June 10.

And Budd has been named in a 21-man Community Lions squad – a representative side made up of the best players throughout all areas of the amateur game – that will face a Commonwealth Ex Pats team earlier that night.

This game will act as part of the Lions’ preparations for their two-game tour of Serbia starting on June 20.

The Ex Pats team will comprise coaches and non-contracted players from the community game who were born in a non-English Commonwealth nation and are currently playing for an English club, an English Student side or an Armed/Civil Services team.

Community Lions head coach Jimmy Taylor said: “We’re expecting a tough clash against the Commonwealth Ex Pats who will have a wealth of rugby league experience.

“It will be a fantastic experience to play on the Headingley pitch in front of thousands of England fans and we’ll hopefully get lots of support.”

Pre-purchased tickets for the International Origin match start from £19 for adults and £12 for concessions and are available at www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk or by contacting the RFL Ticket Office on 0844 856 1113. Tickets purchased on the day of the match start from £22 for adults and £15 for concessions.