Yorkshiremen are used to seeing Indian sports stars on the cricket pitch.

But when 24 burly rugby union players from the Indian sub-continent, including a Bollywood actor, turned up for lunch at Bradford Grammar School yesterday, it came as a surprise to some of the students.

The stars of the India national team were in Bradford to spread the message about how sport can help to break down barriers.

The visit was organised by Bradford Council and is part of a number initiatives by the Council's sport and leisure services under the bactive campaign to encourage more ethnic minority participation in the sport.

The Council's rugby league development officer Ikram Butt said: "We hope the visit will build on the interest in rugby following England's World Cup success.

"We're really lucky that these players are taking time out from their busy tour to come to Bradford.

"They provide great role models for the growing number of young Asians who are now playing rugby.

"We are hoping to develop rugby in the city and we've formed teams like the Manningham Bulls to raise participation levels from minorities.

"The team brings together under-12s from the Manningham area which is predominately Asian and from Ravenscliffe which is predominately white."

It is the first time the Indian team have toured the UK and among the squad is Bollywood star Rahul Bose.

Mr Bose, an actor, scriptwriter and director, whose directorial debut, the Anglo-Indian crossover film Everybody Says I'm Fine, was runner-up at the 2001 Palm Springs Film Festival, said the team was delighted to visit Bradford Grammar School.

He said: "A lot of our players coach children in schools around India.

"When Ikram said there was a school on the agenda we thought it was an excellent idea.

"It's always nice to spread awareness about the Indian team.

"Now coming here to find it's one of the oldest rugby schools in England, it's the icing on the cake."

Mr Butt set up a UK-wide team of players called the South Asia Bulls to increase ethnic minority participation.

Team captain Junaid Malik, 24, a trainee solicitor in Bradford, said: "Sport is always good for breaking down barriers.

"Rugby's not as popular as soccer and many people don't know Asians play rugby.

"But we have a squad of 30 players who are of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan origin.

Bradford Grammar School pupil Tom Hamill, 17, said: "We're very proud to have international players at our school."

Deputy council leader, Councillor Simon Cooke said: "Rugby is an important part of life in the district, thanks to the success of our local and national teams.

"This visit will boost the council's initiatives to encourage players from all sections of the community to participate in this great sport."