BARROW RAIDERS Ladies will begin their training tonight.

The session will be held for any prospective players looking to join the newly-formed team.

It has been branded as a "fantastic opportunity" as the Raiders look to be a success in the women's game.

A statement from the club said: "After the exciting news that the Barrow Ladies team will become part of the Barrow Raiders club we now have a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in getting involved to come down to Craven Park for an open trial as we ramp up our preparations and look to bolster our squad for the 2021 Women's Championship Season.

"After finishing runners-up in the league and narrowly losing the 2019 Championship Grand Final the last time we played, the club are ambitious to grow and continue our success in 2021, with future ambitions to join the Women's Super League."

Anyone attending the session should arrive at Craven Park (Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium) at 6:15pm this evening.

Captain Jodie Litherland revealed the team were looking for the backing of a professional club such as Barrow Raiders.

She said: "We want to win the Championship and go all the way through to win the play-off final.We want to make sure that if the opportunity comes to get into the Super League, we are considered, which is why we have affiliated ourselves with a professional club. Also, Barrow Raiders' community team have introduced Barrow Raiders Girls which is great, and we have been involved in that for a while sending a player and a coach to each session before Covid came along, so we will continue that once it restarts."

Litherland explained that the junior section sees girls and boys mix but there is a lack of options for girls playing rugby league once they reach their teens

Steve Neale, chairman at Barrow Raiders, was delighted to welcome them to the club. He said: "We are going to do everything we can to push this. If we can create that conveyor belt of talent for the women's game like we have with the men's that would be great."