A CUMBRIAN amateur rugby league club have been selected as one of 30 community clubs across the country who will compete in the Challenge Cup next year.

Maryport ARLFC have announced that they have been invited to compete in the 2025

The club will join 29 others from the community game in the first round of the competition to be played on the weekend of January, 11 and 12 2025 as the representative from Cumberland Amateur Rugby League (CARLA).

The fifteen winners will be joined in the second round by League 1 and Championship teams. Super League teams will enter from round three and will be drawn away from home

The club say the invitation is recognition of the club's achievements during the last 12 months of finishing joint top of the CARLA Premier League, thereby earning the CARLA entry

In a statement Maryport ARLFC said: "We are incredibly proud to be taking part in rugby league's most famous knock-out tournament, which will be the first time we have played in the competition for nearly 90 years, when Maryport faced Barrow in the 1937/38 season

"This is a massive achievement for our club and we would like to thank the players, coaches, sponsors, supporters and volunteers who have helped make this happen."