The National Conference League have confirmed that Distington will join Division Three next season.
It follows a thorough application process, including a management team visit, meeting and subsequent vote by the clubs.
National Conference League chairman Trevor Hunt said: “Distington presented a compelling case. It is a village with rugby league and the club right at the heart of the community and recent years have only seen them enhance that reputation.
“They have well-appointed and maintained facilities, a young, enthusiastic committee, obvious strength on the field where they have been amongst the leading clubs in the Cumberland League for several years, and a vastly improved youth structure from when they previously expressed an interest in joining the National Conference League.
“We put an email vote to our clubs who have whole-heartedly agreed to welcome Distington with open arms. We can’t wait to see them take their place in our competition and add their own brand of vibrancy to the mix.”
Club spokesman Mark Askew said: “All at Distington ARL are overjoyed and extremely excited about our future in such a highly respected organisation.
“Our aim when reforming in 2005 was to improve year on year in the local Cumberland League and this we did.
“After this it was to maintain a good standard of rugby league and develop our youth system with a view to applying for the NCL, of which we did.
“Although our application was not successful back in 2017 due to sustainability, we where told to keep developing our youth system and prove we can field a second team by attracting more players to sign, which we did.
“We went away, took onboard the NCL’s recommendation’s and built our club up to where we are today – a thriving Amateur Rugby League club that provides the teachings of Rugby League development, health and wellbeing, good sportsmanship and morals giving our players of all ages a sense of belonging in a family friendly environment.
“We are overwhelmed by this major stepping stone in our clubs history and want to thank the NCL board and the member clubs for recognising Distington ARL as a club worthy of a place in a league at the pinnacle of Amateur Rugby League.
“We want to say a special thank you to all players, coaches, back room staff, committee members, fantastic spectator’s and our amazing sponsors for their continued support in the years gone by and at present.
“A lot of hard work has gone in on the pitch and behind the scenes here at Distington to get us to where we are today and everyone involved carries the same ethos and the same common goal which is reflected in our achievement’s to date. We are a ‘we do club’ not an ‘I do club’ and long may that continue.
“This is a proud moment in the history of our village club and our community, finally being accepted into The NCL. The hard work starts now in preparation for the 2024 season.”
