A York & District selection will visit Kharkov in June to help celebrate the A.V. Martyrosyan Memorial Rugby League Tournament.

"It will be the seventh International tournament this year,” said Ukrainian Federation of Rugby League president Artur Martyrosyan junior. “This year we will play 9s and for Ukraine National team it`s a part of our preparation period for the Belgrade 9s on 24-25th of June. We are pleased this year to welcome to Kharkiv our friends from England.”

The visitors will join three Ukrainian representative teams – from west, central and eastern Ukraine. The English tour has been organised by York Acorn boss Leigh Paul-Rientoul and businessman Gary Dickenson, who is involved in neighbouring club New Earswick All Blacks, and will see players from each of the city's four community clubs - Acorn, All Blacks, Heworth and York Lokomotive – combine.

Paul-Rientoul explained the tour came about due to his links with Martyrosyan, whom he had met while playing in that country for a touring BARLA Great Britain Under-23s team in 2009 and 2010.  “I've always kept in contact with him and he invited us to take a team over," said the Acorn coach. “It's great to have representative rugby back in the city. Lads who don't necessarily get the chance to play for BARLA GB or Yorkshire can get the chance to represent York and go on tours like this.”