Deadly superleague rivals Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls are putting their sporting rivalry aside with support for the York Golden Jubilee Rugby League Festival.

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

The unique nine-a-side tournament features 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 event has an English Civil War theme (a bit like a Leeds v Bradford meeting!) and 15 teams will join the specially-selected York Ironsides team to play for the Fairfax Cup. The trophy is named after the roundhead commander Lord Fairfax who petitioned King Charles I at Heworth 360 years ago.

The tournament is a first for rugby league and is getting the backing of the game's big guns. Both the Bradford Bulls and Leeds Rhinos clubs - two of the biggest in the world game - have pledged their support for the tournament this week.

Three of the teams - Cork, Glasgow and a South Asia select team from West Yorkshire - all sport the 'bulls' moniker and Bradford Bulls captain and New Zealand RL star Robbie Paul is delighted.

Robbie said today, "The Bradford Bulls are delighted to support the York Golden Jubilee Rugby League Festival.

"Grass roots rugby league plays a big part in what Bradford Bulls are all about and the fact that there are so many teams affiliated to the Bulls by name will ensure that our supporters get right behind the tournament as well."

Not to be outdone, Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington is also pledging his club's full support.

He said, "The York Golden Jubilee RL Festival is a marvellous concept and will interest all followers of the game. It is so refreshing to bring RL teams from all over the British Isles and France together and as a resident of York I can think of no better place to stage the event.

"The Leeds Rhinos players will be there to lend support and I am sure many of our fans will want to be part of this historic and unique occasion."

Plans for the event on bank holiday Monday, June 3, are well in hand both in York and within the individual clubs attending the tournament. The competition has secured widespread backing in rugby league circles and is even expected to boost tourism in the city.

Tournament organiser and former London Broncos supremo Lionel Hurst said, "We have had fantastic support already from the Heworth club, City of York Council and everyone in rugby league. We are pleased to have the Bulls and Rhinos on board.

"We are determined to make this event a huge success and over the next few weeks will be making a series of exciting announcements about the tournament itself and complementary events. The message to rugby league fans everywhere is 'watch this space'!"

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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, City of London KooGas, North Wales Coasters, Royal Air Force, Army, Navy, South Asia Bulls and Teesside Steelers.