Heworth ARLC are gearing up to host an international representative match on Saturday – with the Lord Mayor of York, Coun David Horton, set to be in attendance.

The National Conference League Eagles are to take on a Languedoc Roussillon XIII at Elmpark Way (kick off 2.30pm) in the main feature of the French team’s mini-tour. They also play a warm-up game at Stanningley tonight.

Saturday’s game is the first in a new four-year arrangement between the representative sides, and follows two successful tours to south west France by an Eagles outfit.

The team, made up of players picked from divisions one and two of the NCL, are managed by Heworth public relations officer Ken Sykes, and are coached by former York Wasps favourite Jamie Benn, the Scotland international who plays for Castleford Panthers.

The French outfit are picked from the Ligue Languedoc Roussillon, a regional amateur league which is effectively the fourth tier of French rugby league, below Elite One, Elite Two and DN One.

One of their players is Ismaël Navarlas, one-time captain of FC Lézignan in Elite One, who has played at Heworth before at the York 9s – being voted player of the tournament after Lézignan’s triumph in 2003.

Sykes said: “Languedoc Roussillon is a pretty strong rugby league area and it should be a good game. We’ve had three training sessions and we’re about ready to play.”

As previously reported by The Press, Heworth’s player of the year, Chris Varley, is part of a 19-man Eagles squad. Six substitutes will be allowed, so Varley is certain to play a part in the game.

“It was difficult reducing the initial 40-plus nominations to an final squad,” said Sykes.

“Such was the quality available to us we had to think long and hard about who we named, but we are confident the players we select will do the NCL proud.”

York officials Shane Daniel and Gareth Evans have been appointed as touch judges for the game.

Blue and Golds ace in Aussie trip

YORK Acorn ARLC ace Tim Elliott is aiming to fly the city flag on tour with the BARLA Great Britain Lions.

Elliott, 23, has landed in Western Australia and is gearing up for Saturday’s opening game of the four-match trip against Rockingham Sharks.

Acorn physio Steve Thompson is in the party.