Bristol Sonics will kick off 2009 with their first appearance in the Challenge Cup – rugby league's most famous competition.

The city's only 13-man code team have been drawn against Leeds Met Carnegie in a preliminary home tie on January 18 and will face hardened outfit Warrington Wizards if they come through that.

Last season, the Sonics had the most successful campaign in their history, winning the West Midlands Regional Conference before suffering their only defeat of the season to Moorends Thorne Marauders in the national grand final.

That runners-up spot won them a place rugby league's equivalent of the FA Cup, lifted last year by Super League powerhouses St Helens.

Sonics chairman Phil Cole said: "To be invited to enter the Rugby League Challenge Cup is the stuff of dreams.

"For a club like the Sonics, it's a tremendous honour. When we set up the club six years ago we never dreamed that we'd be lining up in the same competition as the likes of St Helens, Wigan Warriors, Leeds Rhinos and Catalans Dragons."

The top sides in the country do not enter the draw until the latter rounds, but the Little Stoke-based Sonics are one of only five Rugby League Conference sides asked to take part and have gone into the draw with sides including the British Army and Navy.

Captain Dom Swann added: "All the lads are looking forward to taking part immensely. It's a great honour for all of us and the stuff dreams are made of.

"Leeds Met will be a very tough side but they won't be looking forward to coming all the way to Bristol."