Cumbria Rugby League is part of the Rugby Football League and incorporates what is now called the "Iggesund Cumberland ARL" which has existed since 1899 and one of the few competitions that predates any attempt to organise the amateur game.
The first three named joined with Lancaster and the Furness clubs Barrow, Dalton and Askam to form the North Western League in 1898/99.
Mason (Whitehaven) to chair the new competition and R. Nixon (Maryport) was elected Hon.
In 2024, suggestions were made that the league could return to winter due to a number of fixtures cancellations caused by clubs being unable to field teams in the summer months.
[4] 5-2 In 2013, a short lived "Cumbria Men's League" was created for the higher performing teams of the Cumberland ARL competition.