The first Challenge Cup draw of the season takes place tonight with plenty of Cumbrian interest.
Amateur teams from across the country enter into the first round of the competition and they will have the opportunity to play against a professional outfit should they make their way through to round two.
Wath Brow Hornets, Cumbria’s highest-ranked amateur side in the National Conference Premier Division and Maryport, representing the Holmen Iggesund Cumberland ARL are involved in the first round draw.
Maryport will be represented by ball number four while the Hornets are ball number 19.
Every Championship and League One side, barring Toulouse Olympique will enter in the second round before Super League sides come into the competition in round three.
For the second round draw Barrow Raiders are ball number one; Whitehaven are ball 20 and Workington Town will be ball 22.
All three rounds will be played before the start of the league season, with clubs playing competitive action as early as mid-January. The Challenge Cup final will be played at Wembley Stadium on June 7.
In honour of Goole’s acceptance into League One, the RFL are taking the draw to the East Yorkshire town. It will be held at the RaisE Business Centre in Goole, with the Vikings celebrating the presence of the competition in Goole by taking the Challenge
The first round of the Challenge Cup will be played over the weekend of January 11-12. The second round will take place two weeks later, with Championship and League One clubs set to play their first competitive games of the season on the weekend of January 25-26.
York Knights will be given an exception as they are due to travel to Amsterdam to take on Hull KR the same weekend. Their game is expected to be played at a later date.
The first round will be made up of amateur teams including sides from the armed forces, Cumberland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Harry Jepson Trophy winners Telford Raiders. There are 15 teams from the National Conference League also involved.
Maryport will take part in the Challenge Cup next season for the first time in nearly 90 years.
They last played in the prestigious competition in 1937-38 when they met Barrow losing rather heavily 83-3.
Round One draw
1. British Army
2. RAF
3. Royal Navy
4. Maryport
5. GB Police
6. Longhorns
7. Telford Raiders
8. Crossfield
9. Dawsbury Moor
10. Hunslet ARLFC
11. Ince Rose Bridge
12. Leigh Miners Rangers
13. Lock Lane
14. Oulton Raiders
15. Rochdale Mayfield
16. Siddal
17. Thatto Heath
18. Waterhead Warriors
19. Wath Brow Hornets
20. West Bowling
21. West Hull
22. York Acorn
23. Blackbrook
24. Haresfinch
25. Orrell St James
26. Mirfield
27. Ediburgh Eagles
28. Eastern Rhinos
29. Hammersmith Hills Hoists
30. London Chargers
31. Wests Warriors
32. Aberavon Fighting Irish
33. Doncaster Toll Bar
34. Stanley Rangers
Round Two draw
1. Barrow Raiders
2. Batley Bulldogs
3. Bradford Bulls
4. Cornwall
5. Dewsbury Rams
6. Doncaster
7. Featherstone Rovers
8. Goole Vikings
9. Halifax Panthers
10. Hunslet RLFC
11. Keighley Cougars
12. London Broncos
13. Midlands Hurricanes
14. Newcastle Thunder
15. North Wales Crusaders
16. Oldham
17. Rochdale Hornets
18. Sheffield Eagles
19. Swinton Lions
20. Whitehaven
21. Widnes Vikings
22. Workington
23. York Knights
24-40. First round winners
