CANADA COUGARS are hoping for huge local support when the World Cup bandwagon rolls into town on Wednesda night.

The Maple Leaf team adopted the Keighley Cougars logo in tribute to the club and local people after receiving a warm welcome during the Student World Cup when the young players enjoyed their connection with the local club -- and the area.

"The students had a superb time in Keighley and asked permission to adopt the Cougar local which were only too happy to give them, now that has been carried through into the full national side," said Cougars' marketing manager Gary Murgatroyd.

The Canadian team meet Italy in the first round of the Emerging Nations World Cup which could provide some more evenly balanced matches than the full competition.

Italy will also have plent of local support with former Cougar player, Tony Fella, who is currently playing with Keighley Crusaders rugby union team, in the Italian squad.

Six nations are taking part with the final on Monday November 20th at Rochdale Hornets' Spotland stadium.

The teams taking part are Canada, Italy, USA, Morocco, Japan and the Great Britain and Ireland amateurs, (BARLA).

After a long summer lay-off the game is expected to be well supported by rugby-starved Cougar fans.

"There should be an absolutely fantastic atmosphere. Both Canada and Italy are looking forward to playing at Keighley and enjoying the Cougar spirit, we hope it will be a real family evening out.

"Many people will remember the visit of Fiji and South Africa in the last World Cup. That was a fantastic day which people will remember for years to come, both for the fercious Fijian play and the atmosphere in the crowd, Wednesday's match should be just as good," Gary Murgatroyd said.

Throughout the Emerging Nations competition members of all the teams will be staying in The World Cup Village at Hopwood Hall College, Rochdale.

As he prepared for intensive training with the Italian squad Tony Fella said: "I'm really looking forward to meeting the rest of the squad and hope to get a game at Keighley.

"We meet up in Rochdale on Saturday and then have four days training. All I know at the moment is that I am in the squad of 20, but of course I hope to get a run out at Keighley.

"The team should be pretty strong with a number of Australian-based players in the squad," he said.

The Canadian outfit also expects to be stronger than inprevious years with a number of former rugby union players strengthening the League sqaud. Among the players will be Ross Van der Hook who played at Keighley with the student team.

n There will also be a mini-rugby warm-up to the big match with teams from St Josephs, Hothfield, St Mary's Riddlesden and Guardhouse schools takingpart in Under-9's matches organised by Jason Ramshaw.

"The young players are really looking forward to playing before a big crowd and I hope fans will turn up in plenty of time to give them their support," Jason said.