After a season in recess, Tumbarumba have found a new home in the Murray Cup.

The proud rugby league town were admitted into the border based competition, almost 12 months after withdrawing from Group Nine due to a lack of player numbers.

Even last month president Larry Collins didn’t like the Greens chances of entering the competition, however he was pleasantly surprised to receive a call from new competition president Pat Wallace.

“There was change of committee down there and they actually asked if we were still interested,” Collins said.

“We were thinking we were still in recess for another year.”

One of the biggest surprises is Tumbarumba will play at home this season.

Early indications were that clubs were unwilling to travel into the hills to play, but it was far from the impression Wallace gave of.

“It looked very unlikely with the other committee but when he (Wallace) rang me we still expected we would have to play down there, but at a meeting last Wednesday night a couple of the Corowa boys said they were very excited for a bus trip to Tumba.

“Other blokes at the meeting said they were willing to travel, which was a bit of a shock to us really and a real bonus.”

Next year’s competition will have eight teams after Tumbarumba and Benalla where admitted on Monday.

The newcomers will join Corowa Cougars, North Eastern Knights, Wodonga Storm and Wombats, plus Charles Sturt University Mud Dogs and the Murray River Warriors.

As it stands Corowa will be the first club to travel to Tumbarumba as part of a 14-round home and away competition featuring a top four finals system.

Collins said there was plenty of excitement within the club.

They’re building up to take part in the Tumut pub nines and Collins expects a real flow on effect to the Murray Cup side.

“Everyone is pretty excited and with pre-season for the Tumut nines it will carry on and we’ll have somewhere else for them to play,” he said.

“With what we’ve got on the books for the nines a lot of them have agreed they will go around in Murray Cup.

“It is a pretty handy side actually.”

Tumbarumba are still open to having leaguetag and under 17s but need more players interested.

They will hold an annual general meeting on January 9 to plan for a new chapter.

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