Cumbria Women's rugby team is on its way to Twickenham, courtesy of a generous donation from housebuilder firm, Genesis Homes.

The team's coach, Ally Ratcliffe, a former Scotland international, announced that the team had met their £5,000 fundraising goal ahead of their game on Sunday.

The thrilling encounter with Devon is for the Gill Burns County Championship title, and the team will now be able to travel to London on Saturday and stay overnight, thanks to Genesis Homes.

When Genesis Homes learned the team was £1,500 shy of their target, the Cumbria-based business filled the gap.

This means the women will get a good night’s sleep and be in better shape for their historic match at Twickenham.

Ms Ratcliffe commented the importance of the generous backing: "I’ve coached Cumbria Women for 10 years and playing at Twickenham has always been our goal.

"The amazing donation from Genesis Homes means we stand a better chance.

"We can prepare better and stay overnight the night before, as our only other option was to leave Cumbria at 4am for an 11am kick-off and that is not ideal preparation for the biggest game in our history.

"We are so grateful to Genesis Homes for stepping in, and we hope we can get the win and put Cumbria rugby on the map."

The managing director of Genesis Homes, Nicky Gordon, was a rugby player himself, having played at Newcastle Falcons and Sale Sharks academies before injuries impeded his progress.

He was keen to support Cumbria on their first visit to Twickenham after being kept up to date with their results from Genesis Homes project manager, Josie Scrimgour, who will play on the wing on Sunday.

Mr Gordon voiced his support for the team: "I had no hesitation in topping up the total to make sure the team were able to enjoy the best preparation possible.

"As a business with its roots firmly in Cumbria, we are passionate about supporting the communities which have shown us great support.

"The team has already done the county proud by making it to the final and we will be supporting Josie and her teammates on Sunday, and are confident they can bring the silverware up north."

The Gill Burns County Championship match, a crowning moment for the team, will be a culmination of their victories against Staffordshire, Oxfordshire, and Essex.

The match will kick-off at 11am on Sunday and will stream live on YouTube for fans who can't make the trip to support the women in person.