YORK City Knights general manager Ian Wilson admitted he couldn’t help but laugh aloud when the Tetley’s Challenge Cup fifth round draw handed his club a trip to the south of France.

The Knights will travel to Perpignan over the weekend of May 11 and 12, to take on a Catalans Dragons team currently lying fifth in Super League with a formidable home record.

Few will give the Knights any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals, while it remains to be seen if the tie bolsters club coffers, but Wilson, who immediately began working out the logistics of the trip, says it could be a great bonding exercise regardless of the result.

The players are certainly looking forward to it judging by the reactions on Twitter, although at least one of them – Tom Carr – will have to rush to get a new passport.

Wilson said: “My first reaction was to start laughing. When Catalans came out of the hat first I just knew it would be us next.

“It will be a very difficult game but it’s a nice opportunity for the players to go and play Super League opposition overseas. You don’t often get chance to do that at this level, to represent your club overseas.

“It’s a big occasion for the players which I’m sure they will enjoy.”

The Knights’ one previous excursion over the Channel was in 2011, when Toulouse played in the Championship. York won 16-10 on that occasion, their first victory that season. They edged Toulouse 30-28 on Sunday in the cup fourth round to go into the hat for yesterday’s draw, which was performed live on BBC Radio 5Live.

Added Wilson: “The Toulouse trip a couple of years ago was great in terms of team bonding. We have good memories of that. The weather will be reasonable and it’ll be a nice little weekend away.

“We would have preferred a home tie but it will be a good experience for the lads and for the club to be involved with.

“They’ll have to get sorted quickly though – when we were drawn against Toulouse, Tom Carr said it was a good job we were at home as he hasn’t got a passport.”

Asked about the Knights’ hopes of pulling off a shock result, Wilson added: “You’ve always got a chance. It will obviously be a very, very difficult game. Catalans don’t often lose at home against Super League teams, never mind a team from the division below. But it’s a challenge the lads will take on.”

Knights head coach Gary Thornton said: “The draw could have been worse.

“It will be a good experience to go over there. It’s a very tough draw, certainly, but we’ll have a weekend away with the boys and do some bonding.”

The Dragons have suffered only one defeat at the Gilbert Brutus Stadium this term, to champions Leeds. Among their number are stars of the game such as Brent Webb, Leon Pryce, Thomas Bosc and the evergreen Steve Menzies.

They won 50-12 at Hunslet – whom the Knights face this Sunday in the league – in round four, despite having Ian Henderson sent off after 27 minutes.

Thornton said: “You have to look at what they did to Hunslet with only 12 men. It’s a real tough ask for us, but we’ll give it our best shot. We’ll be massive underdogs but we’ve nothing to lose. ‘Go and enjoy it,’ will be the instructions.”

Full-back Carr tweeted: “Best send off for my passport. Great draw for York City Knights.”

Back-rower Jack Pickles wrote: “Excited doesn’t come close.”

Meanwhile, a supporters’ coach will travel to Hunslet for the Kingstone Press Championship clash on Sunday, April 28.

The coach, organised by Knights Independent Supporters Society, will depart from the Ainsty at 12.15pm, Clarence Street at 12.30pm and Huntington Stadium at 12.45pm. The price is £14. To book, phone 07763 121732.

For train times and fares, visit www.tpexpress.co.uk. The nearest station to South Leeds Stadium is Leeds.