Ex-St Helens centre makes League One switch

A centre who debuted for St Helens in Super League has joined a new club ahead of the 2025 season in a switch to League One.

Jake Spedding played a total of four games for the Red Vee between 2016 and 2018 with all four appearances coming in Super League. He has now found himself a new club for the upcoming 2025 campaign.

Spedding has swapped relegated Swinton Lions for rival League One club North Wales Crusaders, coached by Carl Foster who is another former St Helens player.

Foster, who recently confirmed his coaching staff to have iconic winger Patrick Ah Van in a player-coach role, has been in charge of the Crusaders since 2023, having initially joined in a player-coach capacity.

The Welsh outfit narrowly missed the League One play-offs in 2024 and they will be holding out hope that the signing of players such as Spedding can help them go one step further in 2025.

Former St Helens youngster makes League One switch

Spedding’s signature was confirmed by the club in a statement released via their club site and social media with the 28-year-old signing a one-year deal.

A statement read: “North Wales Crusaders are delighted to confirm the signing of 28-year-old Jake Spedding, who arrives at the club from Championship side Swinton Lions for the 2025 season.”

Swinton will be playing alongside Crusaders in League One for 2025 after losing the play-off tie against Hunslet RLFC in October. Spedding had played 25 games for the club in 2024, scoring nine tries which marked the most prolific season of his career.

North Wales’ statement continued: “Spedding, who can play both centre and wing, began his career in the academy systems of Super League side St’ Helens where he went on to make his top flight debut, featuring in a handful of games for the Saints whilst also earning caps for England at academy level.

“Following spells in the Championship with Barrow and Sheffield, Jake found home at Widnes Vikings where he enjoyed a three year spell before going on to sign a two-year-deal at fellow Championship outfit Swinton Lions.”

Head coach, Carl Foster, said: “Jake’s a great signing for us. I’ve been a huge fan of him for years, he’s a real strike threat on an edge and he’ll give us much-needed pace.

“He’s a real professional in everything he does both on and off the field. I can’t wait to see him in a Crusaders shirt and playing his best rugby.”

Spedding added: “I’m really excited to join Crusaders.

“When I met with Foz, he made the club’s plans for 2025 really clear and it was something which I wanted to be on board with.

“The club have shown great ambition and I’m looking forward to what we can achieve in 2025.

“We’ve started really well in pre-season, it’s been a tough start, but I think we’re starting to gel well ahead of the new season.”

It was also recently revealed that Crusaders would face Newcastle Thunder away in the first round of the 1895 Cup with a trip to Goole Vikings their prize, should they win.