There will be an air of expectancy around the Ellis Sports Ground on Tuesday when pre-season training gets under way.

Former coach John Crichton has returned as director of rugby and has been inviting former Zebras players to return to their roots and boost the current squad.

After relegation from North Lancs Cumbria League after just one season, Workington are back in the Cumbria League.

They will be much more competitive in these surroundings but it will be no easy task bouncing back to the league above.

Whitehaven, Silloth, Egremont and Cockermouth will ensure that it is a hotly contested league in 2017/18.

The new changing rooms are nearing completion and they will be open for July 17 when St Joseph’s School hold their annual sports day and pupils will be able to have a good look round.

If all goes to plan, local MP Sue Hayman and representatives from the RFU will be invited along as well to inspect the new facility.

Before that, on the weekend of July 14-16, the Zebras will be holding their annual, and very popular, beer festival.