Cumbria call
for more internationals

Cumbria coach, Gary Chambers, has called upon the Rugby Football League to make Cumbria play international games every year after the huge success of the side?s clash against New Zealand A. Cumbria which hasn?t played for nine years, with its last clash being against the Australian Kangaroos back in 1994 drew a healthy crowd of 4,124 to Whitehaven's Recreation Ground for the match, and they weren?t disappointed with the thrilling display put on the field.

The Cumbrian team, which was primarily made up of Whitehaven players, plus a handful of Super League stars, was forgotten when the ?War of Roses? tournament was put together, and it has only been now in 2003 that they have been considered again.

Cumbria provide the perfect platform for international sides to play against, whilst not being the strongest county they are good for the likes of France, Russia or Papua New Guinea which should all be considered as potential opposition in the future to help develop the side.

These ?mini-tours? do just as much for Rugby League as when the likes of the Kangaroos and Kiwis tour, as it gives those players who may not be quiet good enough to make the senior side a chance to play representative football.

Cumbria is an area Rugby League wants to keep, and wants to make strong, and through concepts like this they will go a long way to achieving that.