Rugby league superstar Robbie Paul will help make the draw next week for the big York Golden Jubilee Rugby League Festival in June.

The tournament, backed by the Rugby Football League and City of York Council, is being hosted by Heworth Rugby League Club and is taking place on bank holiday Monday, June 3.

The international, nine-a-side festival features 16 teams from Ireland, the UK and France as well as a York select squad called the Ironsides in honour of the city's history in support of Oliver Cromwell's Roundhead forces during the English Civil War.

The teams will play for the Fairfax Cup - named after the roundhead commander Lord Fairfax who petitioned King Charles I at Heworth 360 years ago. Each team will play three matches in a preliminary 'group stage' featuring four teams per group. The top two teams in each group will then go forward to the quarter final stage.

Next week's draw for the group stage will take place live on BBC Radio across Yorkshire from the headquarters of BBC North in Leeds. Bradford Bulls stand off Robbie, 26, will be joined in making the draw by a Super League rival from neighbours Leeds Rhinos whose name will be unveiled next week.

The draw is being staged in association with and supported by Rugby League World, the premier international rugby magazine. It will be held live on BBC Radio Leeds' Nitesport programme between 7pm and 10pm next Wednesday night, April 10. The draw will be hosted programme presenter John Boyd.

The draw will go out live throughout Yorkshire on BBC Radio York, BBC Radio Sheffield, BBC Radio Leeds and BBC Radio Humberside.

Rugby League World editor Tony Hannan said, "Rugby League World magazine is proud to support what promises to be a fascinating tournament and we look forward to covering it in depth over the coming months.

"The magazine has always championed the sport's growing global profile and the York Golden Jubilee Rugby League Festival will be a perfect international showcase for that as well as providing a great day or weekend out for all the family.

"With the wonderful City of York providing the perfect Bank Holiday backdrop, we are sure the Nines will provide Rugby League with an exciting day to remember."

Councillor Alan Jones, City of York Council's executive member for leisure and heritage, said, "We have now reached an exciting stage of the preparations for this event and, come Wednesday evening, everyone will know who they will be facing in the group stages on June 3.

"I think interest in this tournament is building nicely both inside and outside the city. I am delighted at the backing from BBC local radio and Rugby League World magazine as well as rugby league superstars like Robbie Paul."

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Notes for Editors: The full list of 16 teams is: York Ironsides, Belfast, Cardiff Demons, Cork Bulls, Dublin Blues, Edinburgh Eagles, Glasgow Bulls, Les Hussards de Paris, FC Lezignan - Corbieres, London KooGas, North Wales Coasters, Royal Air Force, Army, Royal Navy, South Asia Bulls and Teesside Steelers Robbie Paul was born in Tokoroa, New Zealand and joined Bradford Bulls in July 1994 from New Zealand at the age of 18 and has since gone on to represent his country. His outstanding ability was underlined in his 1996 Challenge Cup final display against St Helens, where he scored three tries obtaining the "Lance Todd Trophy" as Man of the Match. He captained the Bulls to Grand Final glory in 2001 scoring 23 tries during the Championship winning season. A school rugby league ten-a-side tournament featuring primary schools playing for the Marston Moor Cup will be held in York on May 25. The semis and finals of this tournament will feature in the main event on June 3.