Supporters of a Cumbrian rugby club can toast their star players with a special vintage this new year.

Whitehaven Rugby League Club has launched its own wine.

The club has teamed up an Australian vineyard to produce two versions, called Club White and Club Red.

The club says cash raised from the venture will be ploughed back into the club.

Raise funds

The first shipments have been rushed to Cumbria in time for the new year celebrations.

Club chairman Barry Richardson said it was a new business venture to help raise funds and get the local community behind them.

Vice-chairman Des Byrne came up with the idea of the club launching its own wine and drafted in local wine merchant Gerard Richardson to help.

Mr Richardson said: "It's an excellent idea. It's something different to raise money for the club and Gerard said it's a nice wine that will sell well.

"What we're saying is that Whitehaven has signed a classy Australian."

The bottles carry the clubs own label featuring photos of six famous players from John J McKeown to current star David Seeds.