Grassroots rugby league in west Cumbria has received the backing of Sport England with a grant that will fund the building of a new facility.

Wath Brow Hornets ARLFC has been announced as a beneficiary in the latest round of Rugby League World Cup 2021 grants.

The Cleator based amateur rugby league team is one of the community clubs and organisations benefitting from £835,000 awarded to five projects across the country.

Wath Brow Hornets RLFC will use the grant to fund a 24m x 20m indoor training facility with artificial playing surface.

The new facility will protect the side’s main pitch, giving young players the chance to learn in a better environment. It will also double up as a community exercise and fitness space with daily classes.

Rugby League World Cup’s CreatedBy Capital programme aims to improve existing facilities and to support plans for new ones.

RLWC2021 hope to encourage more people to take up rugby league with the grants as well as create community hubs.

Ian Rooney vice chairman at Wath Brow Hornets ARLFC thanked RLWC2021 and Sport England on behalf of the side and its community.

Rooney said: “This will be absolutely fantastic for this rural town and its population. Not just the truly tremendous rugby league impact for the Hornets, but vitally the impact for the children, schools & fitness groups of the area.

He said: “It is, and will be an asset to this area where so many really need a safe and purpose built facility exactly like this. The whole community will benefit on countless fronts, it will not only allow for retention in sports but generate great interest, new participants and ensure a really positive effect on health and well-being for all.

Rooney said: “The club are ecstatic with this news and we thank RLWC2021 and everyone involved in this great initiative.”

The latest round of CreatedBy Capital grants form part of £2 million in government investment.

Jon Dutton, chief executive of the RLWC2021 added: “A staggering £2million invested in these projects will undoubtedly have a very positive effect on the future of rugby league. Wath Brow Hornets ARFLC have been awarded a large grant via our CreatedBy Capital grants programme, after they demonstrated an excellent vision for how the funding will be used to deliver a wider impact on the local community.”

He said: “They have proven to be a fantastic, community led club, and we are confident that these new developments will become established hubs for local people, help local players at a grassroots level and have a real positive impact on the development of rugby league in the future.”