YORK Acorn will join York City Knights in this season's AB Sundecks 1895 Cup.

Acorn are one of only three amateur clubs from the National Conference League (NCL) premier division to have been chosen to join the competiton, alongside NCL champions West Hull and Underbank Rangers.

Those three sides will join 17 clubs from both the Betfred Championship and League 1, with the Cup's final taking place prior to the Coral Challenge Cup final at Wembley in July.

In total, eight clubs from the Championship and League 1 have opted out of the Cup, those being Coventry Bears, Hunslet, London Broncos, London Skolars, Toulouse Olympique, North Wales Crusaders, West Wales, Workington.

The first round draw will take place on March 18, with the ties to be played on the weekend of April 18-19.

The Knights will enter the competition at the second round stage, with the ties being played in midweek, in the week starting April 27.

AB Sundecks 1895 Cup schedule:

First Round (Draw on March 18, ties to be played on weekend of April 18-19)

Second Round (Draw on March 18, ties to be played week starting April 27)

Quarter Finals (Week starting May 11)

Semi-Finals (Sunday, June 7)

Final (Saturday, July 18, Wembley Stadium, midday kick-off).