Distington rugby league star Aiden Worthington will make history next month by becoming the first player from the club to represent the BARLA open age team.

The 30-year-old, who lives in Distington, has been selected in the British Amateur Rugby League Association open age team 24-man squad for a tour of South Africa next month.

He impressed BARLA coaches after playing in two trial matches against Keighley Cougars and Leeds Centurions.

He said it was the first time Distington have had a player in the BARLA squad.

Worthington, who plays as a prop, will jet off to Johannesburg, South Africa, on October 5 for two weeks where the BARLA team will play a series of matches against South Africa.

He said: “It was a shock call-up. I am 30 years old and I haven’t ever been called up before.

“When you get past 27 you think ‘that’s it’. Distington have never had a player in a BARLA squad before so it’s a nice achievement.”

Worthington, who first played for Distington when he was nine, needed to raise around £1,200 to fund the trip to South Africa.

He said the money couldn’t have been raised without the help of Distington chairman Mark Askew.

“His words to me were ‘just worry about playing the rugby and I will worry about the money’,” said Worthington.

“Mark Askew has made it happen. I couldn’t have done it without him. He has taken every pressure off me.”

Worthington was given £625 from the Distington Big Local Project for his trip.

A race night, the Distington pram race and sponsorship from local businesses, including K Adams and Son builders and Kaefer C&D, have also helped fund the trip.

Worthington has been a key player for Distington this season as the village side look to chase the treble.

They have already won the Amateur Cup and hope to add the Cumbria Men’s League title and Cumberland Cup to that list.