RUGBY League’s profile in St Albans is set for a dramatic boost thanks to the work of the Centurions.

The Toulmin-drive based team is determined to take advantage of the Rugby League World Cup taking place October and November by offering sports fans the offer of a lifetime through a new initiative, Centurions Rugby League World Cup Challenge.

Centurions have worked with the competition organisers and are in a position to offer tickets at £12.50 for an adult and £7.50 for concessions (u16, OAP). The club is looking to take 500 sports fans to the semi-finals, which take place at Wembley on Saturday, November 23.

Speaking at the launch of the challenge, player representative Sam Norris said: “The Challenge was the brainchild of Centurions founder Gary Tetlow. His belief is that rugby league is hugely popular on TV and very much respected, but, at the highest level, inaccessible to the people of St Albans.

“With the double header coming to Wembley, what better opportunity to get the sports fans of St Albans along to experience international rugby league first hand, and fingers crossed, be cheering England on to the final.

“We recognise this is a huge challenge, but this is what makes it so much more exciting, and, hopefully, taking an army of fans from St Albans will generate a huge amount of interest [in rugby league] both locally and nationally.”

To assist in meeting their objective, Centurions are looking to appoint “Super Centurions” who will be tasked with selling 20 match tickets. When they achieve this target, they will receive their own free match ticket along with the current England replica jersey. The Super Centurion who sells the most will be rewarded with four tickets for the Rugby League World Cup Final at Old Trafford, Manchester.

Centurions’ chairman, Brian Parker added: “Coming from a football background, I wasn’t familiar with the oval ball game, but once I had attended my first game, I realised how fantastic rugby league was as a sport and a spectacle, and now my sporting loves, football and rugby league sits very nicely, side by side. T

“This is certainly a challenge but the World Cup only comes round once every four years and the ticket pricing makes it a not-to-miss event.”

In conjunction with the Centurions Rugby League World Cup Challenge, there will be many other activities happening in the city around the Rugby League World Cup, including a visit from the World Cup trophy, and details of these will be publicised in due course.