BARROW Raiders will have a realistic opportunity to reach a Wembley final in 2019 following the RFL’s announcement of a secondary cup competition for Betfred Championship and League One sides.

Full details will be confirmed along with the release of the league fixtures for next season on November 25, but what the RFL have stated is the new competition – titled the 1895 Cup – will have its decider at Wembley on the same day as the Challenge Cup final.

The announcement of the 1895 Cup coincides with the RFL extending their agreement with Wembley to host the Cup final until 2027 and governing body chief executive Ralph Rimmer

“Rugby League is proud of the length and strength of that association – Wembley Stadium has been the setting for so many of the greatest matches and memories in the game’s history, with Catalans Dragons writing another chapter when they became the first overseas club to win the Cup earlier this year,” said Rimmer.

“We believe the introduction of the 1895 Cup will give that relationship another boost.

“It’s a recognition that the game has changed since the onset of full-time professionalism in the Super League era, meaning that for a good number of the Championship and League One clubs who have won the Challenge Cup in the past, reaching Wembley currently seems a distant dream.

“This innovation makes that dream of Wembley much more realistic and achievable.”

The 1985 Cup final will form part of a treble-header on Challenge Cup final day, with the Year Seven Champion Schools final being maintained as the traditional opener.

Next year's final takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, but will then be brought forward to a date in late July, starting with being played on Saturday, July 18 in 2020.

Barrow have enjoyed five trips to Wembley for Challenge Cup finals in their history, including beating Workington Town to lift the trophy in 1955.

Their last was in 1967, when they were beaten by Featherstone Rovers, although they have enjoyed knock-out competition success since then, winning the 1983 Lancashire Cup and 2017 League One Cup.

Next season's Challenge Cup kicks off on the weekend of January 26 and 27, with the first-round draw being made on Monday, December 10.