The Rugby Football League have shared a statement on North Wales Crusaders with the club handed a huge point deduction but crucially, they’ve found new ownership.
It means the club will see the 2026 season out, although they will do so with a 12-point deduction on their current total with their most recent game against Doncaster, which North Wales forfeited, confirmed as a 48-0 win for the Yorkshire club.
North Wales ran into financial difficulties when their owners withdrew funding and that sparked the start of a process where players departed in a mass exodus with rivals clubs swooping to make signings.
As such, North Wales have been granted dispensation to sign up to ten loan players as they aim to fulfil the season but they will be forced to operate under a player sustainability cap.
Most important in the RFL statement is the fact that new owners have been secured with NW Rugby League 26 Limited receiving approval to take on the club’s membership until the end of the current season, thus meaning North Wales can complete the campaign.
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Rugby League in North Wales saved as new owners appointed
A statement from the RFL confirmed the news, reading: “The RFL Board terminated the club’s membership on May 6 due to an ‘Insolvency Event’ as per its Articles of Association.
“The RFL Board can confirm a new ownership group, under the company name NW Rugby League 26 Limited, have received approval to take on the membership for the club until the end of the current season.
“As per terms of entry, the new club will operate within a sustainability player cap and be sanctioned with a 12-point deduction applied to the 2026 Championship table.
“In addition, last weekend’s unfulfilled fixture at Doncaster RLFC has now been awarded as a 48-0 win to Doncaster. Due to that game being postponed, North Wales’ planned home fixture with those opponents will now be reversed and played, instead, at Doncaster.
“North Wales’ previous results will all stand.”
As such, North Wales have now plummeted to the foot of the Championship table where they sit on -6 points alongside Halifax, though the Panthers have a better points difference.
The RFL statement also confirmed that the club’s membership is for the remainder of the 2026 season only, adding: “Any future participation is conditional on a comprehensive business plan being provided to the governing body before being admitted for the 2027 fixture list.”
The club’s game away to Goole Vikings on Saturday is set to go ahead as planned.
John Dalton
May 7, 2026 at 4:45 pm
Penalised by a twelve point deduction – POINTLESS. It is just a season written off.
What a waste of time! As though the previous owners give a damn.
All that has happened is that the new Club is hamstrung by the previous lot’s decisions.
All in all, a chocolate fireguard would have been more useful.