LEIGH Leopards fans are dreaming of the club reaching their first Challenge Cup Final since 1971 - but the town has already guaranteed that it will be represented at this year's Wembley showpiece.

Leigh’s Bedford High School have qualified for Rugby League’s Year 7 Boys Champion Schools Final on August 12, taking on Archbishop Sentamu Academy of Hull in the Steven Mullaney Memorial Game.

Having progressed through the regional stage, Bedford’s road to Wembley began with a long trip to Cardiff to face Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf – a journey rewarded with a hard-fought 10-6 win.

Their reward was another road trip, this time to play a Yorkshire school with one of the best finals records in Champion Schools history – Castleford Academy.

The Leigh side took this game in their stride, winning 20-4 to book themselves a semi-final spot against St Peter’s Catholic High School.

An outstanding performance saw them defeat the Wigan side 28-18 to clinch a final spot.

 RFL National Education Manager, Andrea Murray, says: “Congratulations to both schools on making it to the biggest stage of all – Wembley Stadium.

"The boys have done incredibly well to make the final and are a real credit to their coaches – Pete Grayburn and James Abbott at Archbishop Sentamu, and Rob Drinnan at Bedford.

"The boys will be following in the footsteps of some famous Rugby League names who have played in the Steven Mullaney Memorial Game – among them Kevin Sinfield, Denis Betts, Bobbie Goulding and Phil Clarke.

“With more than 20,000 children and young people taking part, Champion Schools has once again been a tremendous success this year."

The Year 7 Boys Champion Schools Final takes place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 12 August, alongside the finals of both the Men’s and Women’s Challenge Cup and the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final.

Tickets for Finals Day are on sale now via the RFL website. Fans can take advantage of an Early Bird offer of 25% off all tickets, with prices starting from only £15 Adults and £7.50 for Under 16s.