Cumbria Rugby League are set to face Nigeria in a one-off international in November, and their initial train-on squad includes six current Super League players, one of whom is Hull FC-bound Harvie Hill.
In what will be the African nation’s first ever international played overseas, a Cumbrian select XVII will take on the Green Hawks on November 2 at Barrow’s Northern Competitions Stadium, in what will be a historic moment in rugby league.
Hailing from Whitehaven, the Wigan Warriors prop is set for the first representative honours of his career, after choosing to represent his county this Autumn.
Making his Warriors debut in 2022, an impressive start to life in Super League has seen him bag an improved deal elsewhere, as this week he became the Black and Whites sixth signing of 2026, joining the likes of Sam Lisone and Joe Batchelor in making the move to West Hull.
Also in the squad are young Warrington Wolves trio James Duffy, Tom McKinney and Zack Gardner, all of whom have made their top division debuts this year. Centre Gardner has two tries in four appearances this campaign, both coming against Catalans Dragons on separate occasions. Duffy and McKinney both made their first Super League bout against Salford Red Devils, in what was an appalling defeat for Sam Burgess’ men.
Brad Singleton of Castleford Tigers and Noah High of Wakefield Trinity are the other Super League players named in the initial squad.
Championship sides based in the region make up the bulk of the squad, with Whitehaven having eight players included, Workington Town having six, and Barrow Raiders and Whitehaven each having eight members of their squad included and Workington Town having six.
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Cumbria’s 30-man train-on squad to face Nigeria is named in full: Max Anderson-Moore (Whitehaven), Ellis Archer (Workington Town) Ethan Bickerdike, Josh Blinkhorn (both Whitehaven), Luke Broadbent, Andrew Bulman (both Barrow Raiders), Jordan Burns (Whitehaven), Jake Carter (Workington Town), Luke Cresswell (Barrow Raiders), Jamie Doran (Workington Town), James Duffy, Zack Gardner (both Warrington Wolves), Ellis Gillam (Toulouse Olympique), Noah High (Wakefield Trinity), Harvie Hill (Wigan Warriors), Ellison Holgate, Connor Holliday (both Whitehaven), Jordan Johnstone (Widnes Vikings), Tom McKinney (Warrington Wolves), Finn McMillan (Barrow Raiders), Jake Pearce (Whitehaven), Stevie Scholey (Workington Town), Brad Singleton (Castleford Tigers), Jack Stephenson (Workington Town), Curtis Teare (Barrow Raiders), Jordan Thompson (Whitehaven), Shane Toal, Tom Walker, Brad Walker (all Barrow Raiders), Cole Walker-Taylor (Workington Town)
