AN amateur rugby league team is gearing up for one of the greatest challenges in its long history as it prepares to take on the mighty New Zealand All Blacks.

But the contest will not be fought out on the pitch, instead the battle is over their nickname.

The team from New Earswick, York, is also known as the All Blacks. Club officials have been contacted by a member of the New Zealand Rugby Union's (NZRU) legal team, asking to know on what basis they are called the All Blacks.

In an email to the club's marketing manager, Mark Tipping, Stephen Cottrell, general counsel for NZRU, said: "If our licensees see third parties making use of the name All Blacks when they are not authorised to do so, this compromises exclusivity and ultimately our revenue streams.

"We understand from your website you sell merchandise bearing the name All Blacks and make fairly widespread use of this name. This has potentially significant commercial implications for us."

NZRU chief executive Chris Moller told them: "Even though it's another sport, and an amateur organisation, we are obliged to take steps."

But Mr Tipping said they would not lose their title without a fight. "I thought it was a wind-up at first but it seems it's for real," he said. "We've emailed them back and it's a case of wait and see, but we would be reluctant to relinquish our name as it's our history. I suppose we can't be doing badly with our marketing if we've got them worried."