Cumbria are well represented in the England Community Lions Under-19s squad for the European Championships.
Eight of them are included in a 21-strong squad, along with nine from Lancashire and four from Yorkshire.
This squad of hopefuls will be hoping to emulate the 2022 squad in retaining the trophy won in dramatic circumstances in Italy.
The Under-19 European Championship is played on a bi-annual basis and is scheduled to take place later this year.
The eight Cumbrians are: Miller Dalton, Fletcher Holgate (both Hensingham); Dylan Grears, Sam Murtagh (both Kells); Devan Sharp (Wath Brow), Josh Blinkhorn (Millom); Tom Farren (Roose) and Daniel Knott (Dalton).
The selection process that began in January last year saw an extended squad selected with seven games played last season across Under-17 and Under-18 age groups, culminating in a final Reds v Blues trial held a couple of weeks ago at Pilkington Recs.
That game, and the performances of everyone that has gone through the programme, ensured that final decisions were made difficult for west Cumbrian Gary Hewer and his coaching team.
The Siddal club have the most in the squad with three of their players (Henry Ogden, Jacob Haigh and Joe Lewis) called up.
Josh Langley, Hensingham’s Fletcher Holgate and Marcus Geener are all named in the squad having represented the Lions programme for the Under 16s in 2022.
Kells’ Sam Murtagh, cruelly robbed of his opportunity last term due to injury, comes into the mix after an outstanding trial, with the likes of fellow Cumbrians Devan Sharp, Miller Dalton and Josh Blinkhorn looking to kick on further following impressive showings last year.
