North Wales Crusaders

History

Celtic Warriors

In the summer of 2003, the WRU voted to reduce the top tier of Welsh professional rugby union from nine clubs into five regions. The Celtic Warriors officially represented the Mid-Glamorgan Valleys area, which in practice meant that they were a combination of Pontypridd RFC and Bridgend RFC.

Due to financial problems, Pontypridd RFC sold their share of the Warriors to Bridgend RFC owner Leighton Samuel, who subsequently transferred it to the WRU. He then later sold his half to the WRU who in the summer of 2004 decided to liquidate the club.

Celtic Crusaders / Crusaders RL

Main article: Crusaders Rugby League#History}}After the success of clubs in the [Rugby League Conference Welsh Premier, [Welsh Premier]] division of the [[Rugby League Conference]], a [[South Wales]] team was mooted to join a professional league in March 2005.{{cite news

On 13 November, Kevin Ellis was appointed Assistant Coach and a few days later on 16 November Anthony Seibold was appointed Fitness and Conditioning Coach. By the end of November coach John Dixon had completed his squad, drawn heavily from Bridgend Blue Bulls and Aberavon Fighting Irish clubs.

The club were due to play their first match against Super League giants St. Helens, but due to the team being in the World Club Challenge competition, a Harlequins RL Academy side provided the opposition for the club's inaugural match. The friendly ended in a 22–22 draw.

For their first season in the National League Two competition the side performed very well finishing third out of twelve teams, earning 29 points. The team scored 730 points and conceded 387. Some changes at the club also occurred during the year. On 8 June 2006, chief executive Chris O'Callaghan resigned after 13 months in the job, during which he was highly important in forming the club and getting them into the professional leagues. At the end of the season influential first ever captain Michael Ryan returned to his native Australia for personal reasons.

2007-2008: Promotion and Super League licence application

Celtic Crusaders' first match of the 2007 season was a Northern Rail Cup game. This year they were drawn in a group with two strong National League One clubs, Widnes and Leigh, and with London Skolars. Widnes came to a snow-hit Brewery Field on 9 February and won 6–56. The squad's second match of the season was a match against the 2006 NRL champions Brisbane Broncos. The Broncos used the match to prepare for their World Club Challenge meeting with St Helens. This Bulmers Original Cider Challenge match attracted a lot of attention from the South Wales media and a record crowd of 2,041 came to see Crusaders lose 6–32 with a very credible performance. Great Egton scored the Crusaders’ only try of the match.

In the second year in the National League Two competition, Crusaders finished first with 60 points and were promoted. The club suffered just one defeat at home all season against Oldham on 4 May. It was the first ever National League Two match to be shown live on Sky Sports, and was also broadcast live on BBC Radio Wales.

The 2008 National League One campaign got off to a great start with 14–12 victory over Dewsbury in front of a crowd of 1,618. The club continued on good goom included a narrow 14–16 victory away at Widnes, a 56–28 win over Batley and a crucial win over Featherstone Rovers on 2 May. A club record crowd of 6,152. Crusaders were matched in the qualifying play-off against first placed Salford City Reds, despite this won 44–18 gaining a place in the Grand Final at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington. The Grand Final saw Crusaders face Salford again who had earned a place via the preliminary final. In the match, the Salford scored the first two tries, before Anthony Blackwood narrowed their lead as the team went into half-time losing 6–10. A resurgence occurred though as Crusaders scored three tries in the second half, but a Salford try and a late goal pushed the match into extra-time. Salford scored three tries over the extra-time period to win the match 18–36.

On 22 July the Rugby League Football granted the Celtic Crusaders a three-year licence from 2009 allowing the team to compete in Super League.

2009-2011: Super League

The first season of Super League for the team was bitterly disappointing, as after three years of strong performances the Crusaders regularly struggled against the best teams in the country. An early February start kicked off the new Super League season with the Crusaders against reigning champions Leeds Rhinos at Headingley. The Rhinos scored four tries early on, before Luke Dyer scored the new team's first-ever try in Super League, but this could not be built upon as the match finished 28–6.

On 9 July the club received word that it was subject to investigations by the UK Border Agency concerning problems over players visas. On 18 August, a few days before the team would face Leeds Rhinos, it was announced that the club had violated visa regulations and six Australian players were asked to leave the country, with the club soon after terminating their contracts. On 14 October 2009, Brian Noble became the second-ever head coach of the club, with former Welsh international Iestyn Harris and former Great Britain assistant Jon Sharp being given the jobs of assistant coaches. In early November the club announced that it would be dropping the "Celtic" from the name to sever ties with the old Celtic Warriors rugby union team, and that the club was now to be called "Crusaders Rugby League". Alongside this a new logo was announced featuring the Prince of Wales feathers. On 15 December 2009, the club announced that their new home would become the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham.

The 2010 season started with a home tie against Leeds. New players were brought into the squad such as Michael Witt, Rocky Trimarchi, and Gareth Raynor. However, the squad was also bolstered with new young Welsh players like Elliot Kear, Lewis Mills and Lloyd White. Crusaders reached the Super League play-offs; going out in the first round at Huddersfield Giants.

On 12 November 2010, the Crusaders were placed into administration due to "inherited debt".

In 2011 the Crusaders initially applied to continue their Super League licence for the 2012–15 period, but on 26 July 2011, they announced they had withdrawn their application as a result of their administration. The club's owners, Geoff Moss and Ian Roberts pulled out stating that they were not able to fund the side anymore, which eventually led to the club being wound up in September. Attendances were down on the 2010 season. Crusaders final game of the Super League was a 42–10 defeat at Wigan Warriors.

North Wales Crusaders

On 11 October 2011, Crusaders RL was readmitted into the RFL for the 2012 season beginning in Championship 1, the third tier of rugby league in the United Kingdom, under the name "North Wales Crusaders". Their original name being preserved following a fan inquest. The club held open trials in the off-season to attract new players.

North Wales Crusaders won their first game, a friendly, 34–12 away to Leigh East.

North Wales won the 2013 Championship One title, thus gaining promotion to the Championship after beating South Wales Ironmen 35–22 on the final day of the season. However, they were relegated the following season.

In 2016, financial issues resulted in the club making cuts to their playing budget. The club was significantly supported in this period by Wales Rugby League in the form of loans and helping with thr club's management structure.

Ahead of the 2017 season, the club appointed a new captain in Lee Hudson, and signed Mike Grady as a new head coach.

On 20 December 2024, the club was taken over by EggChaserRugby, and saw Bobby Watkins become a non-executive chairman. This also saw Arun Watkins become the club's majority shareholder and thus the youngest ever club owner in RFL history at 23 years old.

The 2025 season saw North Wales win League 1 for the first time in 12 years gaining promotion to the Championship. The club also one of 12 teams to send expressions of interest for one of the additional two spots in the expand Super League going into 2026, being the only League 1 club to do so. However they did not continue with a formal application.

Dean Muir, formerly coach at Hunslet, was appointed as head coach on 13 October 2025.

Symbols

The club revealed a logo ready for use in the 2012 season which was an evolution of the 2011 logo. The badge, inspired by the Prince of Wales's feathers, has three white feathers adorning the centre of a disc with the Flag of St. David on. To the left and right of the feathers, the words "North" and "Wales" appear on the disc as opposed to "Rugby" and "League" on the old logo. Beneath the feathers remains the text "Crusaders".

In 2022, the club revealed new home and away kits for the upcoming year. The home kit is black with a yellow stripe across the center, while the away kit is white with black and gray accents.

Stadiums

North Wales Crusaders were first based at the Racecourse Ground located in Wrexham. The club moved to the ground in 2010, in time for the start of the Super League XV season. The first Crusaders match ever played there was against Leeds Rhinos on 29 January 2010, and that match is also the highest attendance for a Crusaders match played in Wrexham. With a capacity of 15,500 it is the largest ground in North Wales, the fifth largest in the whole of Wales, and the seventh largest in Super League. It was first built in 1807 and first played host to Wrexham's "Town Purse" horse race. Crowd trouble stopped the horse racing and in 1864 it became home to Wrexham Football Club with the club now owning the ground. The Wales national rugby league team have played there. The ground has four stands: The Mold Road Stand, the Eric Roberts Stand, the Kop and the Yale.

During pre-season of the 2012 campaign. North Wales Crusaders played 'Home' games at both Halton Stadium (Widnes) and Eirias Stadium (Colwyn Bay).

Whilst resurfacing work was taking place at the Racecourse Ground in 2014, North Wales Crusaders took their home games to 'the Rock' in Rhosymedre, near Ruabon.

As of the 2017 season, the club is based at the Queensway Stadium in Wrexham. It consists of two small all-seater stands on one side overlooking a rugby pitch and a running track with floodlights.

In 2021, the club was based at Stadiwm ZipWorld (aka Eirias Stadium) in Colwyn Bay due to COVID-19 restrictions preventing the use of Queensway Stadium.

2026 squad

2026 transfers

Gains

Losses

Retired

Players

Main article: List of North Wales Crusaders players

Coaches

Updated 4 October 2025.

Seasons

Main article: List of North Wales Crusaders seasons

Honours

• Championship: ::Runners-up (1): 2008
• League 1: ::Winners (3): 2007, 2013, 2025
• League 1 Cup: ::Winners (1): 2015 ::Runners-up (1): 2017

Statistics

Main article: North Wales Crusaders statistics and records

References

References

1. "CHESTER RUFC TO HOST CRUSADERS MATCHES THIS SUMMER". North Wales Crusaders.
2. (29 April 2021). "North Wales Crusaders relocate for 2021". Love Rugby League.
3. Woods, Dave. (22 March 2005). "BBC Sport – Welsh Club Could Win Pro Call Up". BBC News.
4. (22 June 2005). "BBC Sport – Welsh Side Join Pro League Ranks". BBC News.
5. [http://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s165/st75722.htm The Rugby Network – Celtic Crusaders Launched]. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
6. [http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/rugby-league/McNally39s-success-plays-part-in.1063474.jp Yorkshire Post – Admission Of A New Club]. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
7. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article536352.ece The Times – Sport In Brief]{{dead link. (September 2024)
8. [http://www.examiner.co.uk/sport-news/amateur-rugby-league-news/tm_objectid=15659572&method=full&siteid=50060&headline=mcnally-pays-high-price-name_page.html Huddersfield Daily Examiner – Celtic Crusaders]. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
9. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2331921/Catalan-prepare-to-cross-new-frontiers.html The Telegraph – New Frontiers]. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
10. (23 September 2006). "Aberavon Fighting Irish". Aberavonfightinirishrl.moonfruit.com.
11. (29 January 2006). "BBC Sport – Crusaders Share Spoils on Debut". BBC News.
12. "Crusaders RL – 2006 Season Review". Crusadersrfl.com.
13. "Crusaders RL – June 2006".
14. "Crusaders RL – October 2006".
15. {{usurped. [https://web.archive.org/web/20061217025350/http://www.crusadersrfl.com/ Crusaders RL – New Season Posters]. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
16. "Crusaders Til I Die – Widnes NRC Home Match Report". Celticcrusaders.proboards.com.
17. [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/feb/15/rugbyleague.gdnsport3 The Guardian – Crusaders Prepare For Rough Ride Against Broncos]. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
18. [http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/rugby-league-news/2007/02/11/r-league-darren-ready-to-put-the-golden-boot-in-91466-18607925/ Wales On Sunday – Darren Ready To Put The Golden Boot In]. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
19. (23 November 2006). "BBC Sport – Crusaders Set Up Broncos Friendly". BBC News.
20. [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Big+demand+to+see+Broncos+at+Brewery.-a0155856759 The Free Library – Big Demand To See Broncos At Brewery] Retrieved 29 August 2010.
21. "Crusaders Til I Die – Brisbane Broncos Match Report". Celticcrusaders.proboards.com.
22. [https://web.archive.org/web/20071212083026/http://www.broncos.com.au/index.cfm?TopMenuID=266&MenuID=410&NewsID=3144 Brisbane Broncos – Broncos Overcome Plucky Crusaders] Retrieved 28 August 2010.
23. [https://archive.today/20110713235906/http://www.lasttackle.com/news_1388-celtic-crusaders-6-32-brisbane-broncos.html Last Tackle – Celtic Versus Brisbane]. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
24. [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/feb/16/rugbyleague.andywilson The Guardian – Lockyer Has Broncos Bucking]. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
25. Hadfield, Dave. (16 February 2007). "Crusaders Commitment Fails To Rein in Broncos". The Independent.
26. [http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/rugby-league-news/2007/02/16/r-league-crusaders-get-taste-of-big-time-91466-18631852/ South Wales Echo – Crusaders Get Taste Of Big Time]. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
27. "Crusaders RL – 2007 Season Review". Crusadersrfl.com.
28. [http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/rugby-league-news/2007/05/06/r-league-crusaders-crowd-91466-19055093/ Wales On Sunday – Crusaders Crowd]. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
29. [http://celticcrusaders.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=match&action=display&thread=1650 Crusaders Til I Die – Dewsbury Rams H]. Retrieved 10 September 2010.{{registration required}}
30. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/7638206.stm BBC Sport Crusaders 18–36 Salford]. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
31. [http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/07/09/celtic-crusaders-face-visa-questions-91466-24118010/ Wales Online – Crusaders Face Visa Questioning]. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
32. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/6050095/Six-Celtic-Crusaders-players-to-be-deported-to-Australia-after-visa-breach.html The Telegraph – Six Crusaders To Be Deported]. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
33. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/celtic_crusaders/8307200.stm BBC Sport – Harris Calls Time On Career]. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
34. [http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/rugby-league/Iestyn-Harris-retires-to-join.5736104.jp Yorkshire Post – Iestyn Retires To Join Crusaders]. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
35. [http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Crusaders-sign-Iestyn-coach/article-1422100-detail/article.html Llanelli Star – Crusaders Sign Up Iestyn As Coach] {{webarchive. link. (5 May 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2010.)
36. [http://www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk/sport/other-sport/harris_leaves_featherstone_1_1232589 Pontefract And Castleford Express – Harris Leaves Featherstone]. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
37. [http://www.surreyherald.co.uk/surrey-sport/world-uk-sport/2009/10/12/crusaders-set-for-noble-sharp-double-act-86289-24909523/ Surrey Herald – Crusaders Set For Noble And Sharp] {{webarchive. link. (24 July 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2010.)
38. [https://archive.today/20130505073051/http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/sport/headlines/HULL-FC-Sharp-set-Celtic-appointment/article-1410677-detail/article.html Hull Daily Mail – Sharp Set For Celtic Appointment]. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
39. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/celtic_crusaders/8302203.stm BBC Sport – Noble Unveiled As Crusaders Coach]. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
40. [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/crusaders-snap-up-noble-to-boost-fortunes-1802675.html The Independent – Crusaders Snap Up Noble To Boost Fortunes]. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
41. [https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-league/2009/10/15/brian-noble-given-two-years-to-save-celtic-crusaders-115875-21748148/ The Mirror – Noble Given Two Years To Save Crusaders]. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
42. [http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/news/crusaders-name-noble-as-new-coach-19408539.html View London – Noble Appointed Crusaders Boss]. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
43. [https://archive.today/20130505070507/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/article-23756658-brian-noble-focuses-on-new-recruits.do London Evening Standard – Noble Focuses On New Recruits]. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
44. [http://www.lasttackle.com/blogpost_194-just-what-celtic-needed.html LastTackle – Just What Celtic Need]. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
45. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/6328887/Celtic-Crusaders-coach-Brian-Noble-will-focus-on-finding-new-recruits-at-his-new-club.html The Telegraph – Celtic Crusaders Coach Brian Noble]. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
46. [http://www.uknetguide.co.uk/Latest-News/Crusaders-name-Noble-as-new-coach-19408539.html UK Net Guide – Crusaders Name Noble As New Coach] {{Webarchive. link. (10 March 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2010.)
47. [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,12196_5627620,00+en-USS_01DBC.html Sky Sports – Noble Pledges Fresh Start] {{webarchive. link. (21 October 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2010.)
48. [https://archive.today/20130505115204/http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Noble-takes-Dixon/article-1422101-detail/article.html Llanelli Star – Noble Takes Over From Dixon]. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
49. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/celtic_crusaders/8337469.stm BBC Sport – Crusaders Drop 'Celtic' Name]. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
50. [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/dec/11/the-crusaders-wrexham-racecourse-ground Guardian – Crusaders End Speculation By Finding New Home In Wrexham]. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
51. [http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport-news/other-sport/2009/12/11/crusaders-move-to-wrexham-fc-s-racecourse-is-confirmed-55578-25373171/ North Wales Daily Post – Crusaders Move To WFC's Racecourse Is Confirmed] {{webarchive. link. (3 August 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2010.)
52. [http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/sport/rugby-league/crusaders-complete-move-to-north-wales-$1347357.htm In The News – Move To North Wales Complete] {{webarchive. link. (29 September 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2010.)
53. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/celtic_crusaders/8413910.stm BBC Sport – Crusaders Complete Move To Wrexham FC]. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
54. link. (5 September 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2010.)
55. [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,15612_5859348,00.html Sky Sports – Sharp Work For Crusaders]. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
56. [http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/sports-news-round-up/2010/01/01/rugby-league-crusaders-in-pledge-on-new-season-91466-25503600/ South Wales Echo – Crusaders In Pledge On New Season]. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
57. [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,15612_5808600,00.html Sky Sports – Crusaders Capture Aussie Duo]. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
58. [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,15612_5867154,00.html Sky Sports – Crusaders Capture Trimarchi]. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
59. [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,15612_5876735,00.html Sky Sports – Crusaders Sign Raynor]. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
60. [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,15612_5852668,00.html Sky Sports – Harris Backing Crusaders]. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
61. (22 November 2010). "BBC Sport – Crusaders are placed in administration". BBC News.
62. (26 July 2011). "Crusaders face uncertain future after Super League exit". BBC Sport.
63. (August 2012)
64. (11 November 2011). "BBC Sport – New Crusaders side awarded Championship One place". BBC News.
65. (7 December 2011). "Official Crusaders RL web site". Crusadersrfl.com.
66. https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/crusaders-win-championship-one-title
67. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/rugby-league/north-wales-crusaders-suffer-relegation-7624703.amp
68. https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/north-wales-crusaders-making-deep-cuts-in-playing-budget
69. https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/crusaders-board-thank-wrl
70. https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/hudson-to-captain-crusaders
71. https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/grady-returns-to-wales-with-crusaders
72. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cvgnl25rgrjo
73. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/ckgzxrpynvyo
74. (13 October 2025). "Dean Muir appointed new Crusaders head coach". BBC Sport.
75. (2022-03-09). "North Wales Crusaders release new home and away kits for 2022 season".
76. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_east/7571023.stm BBC News – Old Stadium Claims World Record] Retrieved on 5 September 2010.
77. [http://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/page/Racecourse/0,,10311,00.html Wrexham FC – The Racecourse] {{Webarchive. link. (21 October 2011 Retrieved on 5 September 2010.)
78. [http://www.walesdirectory.co.uk/tourist-attractions/Sports_Grounds_and_Stadiums/Wales11453.htm Wales Directory – The Racecourse] Retrieved on 5 September 2010.
79. [http://theracecoursewrexham.co.uk/about.html The Racecourse Wrexham – About Us] {{webarchive. link. (31 August 2011 Retrieved on 6 September 2010.)
80. "2012 Season". Crusadersrfl.com.
81. (20 February 2012). "Official Crusaders RL web site". North Wales Crusaders.
82. (2021-04-28). "North Wales Crusaders relocate for 2021 season due to Covid-19 regulations". BBC Sport.
83. (27 March 2018). "North Wales Crusaders coach Grady departs". [[The Leader (Welsh newspaper).
84. "Official Crusaders RL web site". Crusadersrfl.com.