North Wales Crusaders will miss 2027 Championship season
North Wales Crusaders will not compete in the Championship in 2027, the Rugby Football League has confirmed. Its board says the club has withdrawn from the process of securing membership for that season. A new ownership group took over in May and received interim membership covering the remainder of the 2026 Championship campaign. Entry to the 2027 fixture list required approval of a comprehensive business plan.
Competition membership
- 2026 membership
- Interim to season end
- 2027 Championship
- Will not compete
- 2028 return
- Aim; entry not announced
Dialogue about the club’s future
RFL chief executive Ian Nolan said the governing body wanted to maintain constructive discussions with the club and help secure a future for professional rugby league in North Wales. The RFL also referred to the club’s publicly stated intention to return in 2028. That remains an aim: the statement does not announce approved membership or a place in the competition for that year.
Background and supporting figures
Where this sits
Interim membership covered the2026campaign; admission for2027was a separate approval process.
A stated2028return aim is different from approved membership or an allocated competition place.