AMBITIOUS Lancaster have earned a plum draw in rugby league's York International Nines tournament later this month.
The city's amateurs will face leading Russian club Strela Kazan - the first Russian team to qualify for a place in the Powergen Challenge Cup - in group stages at York.
Strela, who boast a number of Russian internationals in the team, had four representatives in the side that played in the World Sevens in Sydney earlier this year.
And they are among the favourites to win the tournament in which Lancaster finished as best placed runner-up last year.
"Playing a team like Strela Kazan really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the players," says Lancaster's John Thomason.
"It will certainly be a challenge - but also an amazing experience."
Lancaster will also face French National League club Les Hussards de Paris and leading Scottish club Glasgow Bulls in the 24-team, two day event before progressing to a play-off series.
Other teams involved inc-lude all three armed forces sections, the British Students and last year's winners, FC Lezignan.
The International York Nines takes place at Heworth Rugby Club in York over the
weekend of the June 26 and 27 and is part of the international rugby Grand Prix circuit.
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