League 1 Cup Final: North Wales Crusaders 32-38 Barrow Raiders

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS put in a fantastic effort but were narrowly denied League One Cup final glory against Barrow Raiders. Barrow edged the thrilling showpiece 38-32 right at the death, in a topsy-turvy affair at Bloomfield Road where the lead changed hands of several occasions. Barrow took an early lead with just three minutes gone. …

WHEELCHAIR – CRUSADERS 84 HULL FC 44

WHEELCHAIR RUGBY LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP FIRST ROUND NORTH WALES CRUSADERS 84 HULL FC 44 Some people may take a second look when they see that North Wales Crusaders have beaten Hull FC 84-44 in an open age Challenge Cup game but that’s exactly what happened on Saturday afternoon in Wrexham. However this wasn’t the running …

Wales Wheelchair retain Celtic Cup

The Wales Wheelchair Rugby League Squad have today retained the Celtic Cup in Stirling, beating Scotland Rugby League 72-0 and Rugby League Ireland 51-6. The opening match was a loss for the hosts Scotland, with Ireland winning 26-16. Against Scotland, Andrew Higgins led the way six tries and nine goals, Mark Williams scored a hat-trick …

Fans enjoy double header in North Wales

RUGBY LEAGUE fans in North Wales were treated to a double-header at Queensway Stadium on Good Friday. Crusaders’ new home welcomed the Premier Sports cameras for the club’s League 1 clash with Toronto Wolfpack. As a curtain raiser, local amateur clubs Flintshire Falcons and Chester Gladiators took the pitch for a friendly fixture. However, friendly …

Wales receive Sport Wales boost ahead of World Cup

Wales Rugby League’s senior team’s preparation for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup in Australia has been given a significant boost by Sport Wales who have allocated funding support from their performance budgets to the National Governing Body for the first time in their history. Prior to this year, Sport Wales have only allocated funding …

North Wales Origin RL play first ever game

WALES DEVELOPMENT ORIGIN MATCH NORTH WALES ORIGIN RL 24 SOUTH WALES IRONMEN RESERVES 42 A big match that will go a long way towards the development of professional players in North and South Wales, debuted last Sunday in Deeside when a competitive North Wales Origin side, in their first ever game, were beaten 42-24 by …

RIP Ronnie James

Welshman and Halifax Hall of Fame inductee Ronald “Ronnie” James sadly died this week. An esteemed fullback, he played rugby union for Ystalyfera RFC and Maesteg RFC in the 1950s before turning professional for Halifax, playing for them between 1961 to 1971. He became one of Halifax’s greatest players of all time, making 372 appearances, …

WRL welcomed into parliament

The All-Party Parliamentary Rugby League Group welcomed Wales Rugby League to Parliament yesterday evening (28 February). Peers and MPs were joined by associate members in the Palace of Westminster, as Wales Rugby League discussed participation, development and the growth of the game in Wales. There was a focus on the heritage and history of the …

CHALLENGE CUP ROUND 3 REPORT – SOUTH WALES IRONMEN 4 OXFORD 18

By Ian Golden at The Wern for Rugby Leaguer and League Express – www.totalrl.com Exactly 107 years after the first Challenge Cup game in Merthyr Tydfil, the town held its second game in the famous old competition last Sunday and once again the away side were victorious. On February 26th 1910, the Ironmen of yesteryear …

CHALLENGE CUP ROUND 3 REPORT: GLOUCESTERSHIRE ALL GOLDS 36-18 NORTH WALES CRUSADERS

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS exited the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup following a 36-18 defeat to Gloucestershire All Golds. A professional showing from the home side saw them cross the line on eight occasions as they knocked the Crusaders out of the cup for the second time in two seasons. It was the home side who opened the …