CUMBRIA’s open-age squad begin the defence of their BARLA County Tri-Series title with a trip to Yorkshire onSunday.

The Lake District county stormed to victory in the annual competition last season – beating the Tykes 42-16 at Egremont and then humbling Lancashire 26-0 on their own patch at Blackbrook.

Their 2016 campaign begins at Sandal RUFC on Sunday with a squad containing several talented players from the south of the country.

These comprise Askam duo Russ Bolton and Tom Wilkinson, Barrow Island pair Jones and Jack Sutherland, Barrow Raiders triiallist Ethan Kelly and his Millom team-mate Marcus O’Brien, Walney’s Jordan Staffieri, Roose Pioneers ace Adam Batty and Liam Saunders, of Ulverston.

Askam’s Tom Askew is the only local representative in the under-19s squad, who also travel to the White Rose county on Sunday.

Open age squad: Mark Irwin (Aspatria), Russ Bolton, Tom Wilkinson (both Askam) Sam Jones, Jack Sutherland (both Barrow Island), Phil Lister, Clayton Sutton, Bryan Ritchie, Liam McNicholas (all Distington), Leon Crellin, Matthew Besher, Matthew Henson, James McDonald (all Egremont), Daniel Fryer, Chris Tomlinson, Gary Tierney (all Glasson), Ethan Kelly, Marcus O’Brien (both Millom), Jordan Stafferi (Walney Cents), James Devine, Luke Davidson (both Wath Brow), Liam Wood (Seaton), Adam Batty (Roose Pioneers), Liam Saunders (Ulverston).

Under-19s: Patrick Bennett (Egremont), Rhys Burr (Ellenborough Rangers), Gary Armstrong (Aspatria), Jordan O’Leary, Kieran Mewes, Ellis Mewes, Jack Earl, Grant Reid (all Seaton Rangers), Dean Rooney, Owen McCartney, Curtis Tear, Rhys Pritchard, Lewis Pritchard, Conner Molyneux, Mark Miller (all Wath Brow), Bailey Morton (Kells), Tom Askew (Askam).