A Cumbria county rugby league side is being put together for a pre-World Cup clash with Jamaica in Workington.
A special Cumbria Rugby League Coordinating Committee was put together to organise the fixture which has been confirmed for Friday, October 7 at Derwent Park (ko 7-45pm).
The three professional Cumbrian clubs – Barrow Raiders, Whitehaven and Workington Town – have held initial talks aimed at reviving the Cumbrian rugby league brand with a view to joining the international fixture cycle and bringing top class rugby league to the area.
There is an appetite amongst all three clubs to form a joint Cumbrian rugby league board with the specific aim of raising the profile of the game in the area through competitive fixtures for the County side.
The committee was approached by the Jamaican team management to help with their preparations for the World Cup and to help promote the Cumbria Rugby league brand. That has subsequently provided the perfect opportunity to bring the three clubs together in partnership.
In addition to this first fixture, the intention is that there will be at least one fixture for the county each year with the home venue rotated amongst the three clubs. With the possibility that the recent internal analysis of the game might bring more international fixtures, Cumbria could provide perfect opposition.
For the opening game on October 7 the intention is that there will be an early evening start of rugby related entertainment that will involve the whole rugby league community
Details of the coaching and backroom staff will be announced very shortly with the playing squad announcement to follow.
