GIANT Axe could have an international future after being revealed as the new home of rugby league in Lancaster.

City's ground will play host to the newly formed Lancaster RLFC, who will play in next summer's national conference.

And club chiefs say the game's governing body is already considering it as a future venue for amateur inter-nationals between England and Scotland or Ireland.

The Axe was the home of Lancaster's original rugby league club at the end of the 19th century, and club chairman John Thomason says: "It feels as though the game in Lancaster is coming home.

"We are very proud to be involved with Lancaster City FC. This is a great boost to rugby league locally, and an acknowledgement of how seriously we are taking our inaugural season in the Rugby League Conference."

The rugby league club's arrival has also boosted Lancaster City. The club is already working with Myerscough College with its youth academy and is part of the Lancaster football forum, set up by St Martin's College.

Chiefs believe the link-up with the rugby league club is another vital part of their bid to help the sporting scene.

Commercial manager Cora Patel says: "We are really pleased to form this new partnership with Lancaster Rugby Club. It is a major contribution to the development plans of Lancaster City and will help to strengthen our position in Lancaster's sporting community.

"All too often there is a narrow closed culture within football. Lancaster City is moving towards a more fresh open approach and will continue to focus on developing relationships with other bodies.

"We believe that by having a united approach we will have a much stronger voice and that by sharing our aims we can draw on each other's experience and resources to achieve so much more."

Lancaster will play 10 regular season games in the north-west conference, taking on teams from Liverpool, Carlisle, Bolton-le-Moors, Chester and Blackpool on a home and away basis.

Depending on their final league position, Lancaster will go on to compete in a national knock-out cup or plate competition.