North Wales Crusaders are pleased to outline a vision to bring professional women’s rugby league to the region in the coming years.
The successful Crusaders Women’s programme has previously been run by the club’s community foundation, and following discussions between the ownership and the foundation, we’re now pleased to reveal plans to move North Wales Crusaders Women over to the elite performance side of the club with talks now set to take place with the RFL regarding entrance into the competitive leagues from 2026.
North Wales Crusaders CEO Arun Watkins said: “Our Women’s team is of equal priority to us as the men’s side, and a big part of our vision for the club is to have both professional men’s and women’s sides competing at the highest level possible.
“It’s of immense credit to both the foundation and everyone involved with the women’s setup from the last few years as to what they’ve achieved, but we feel now the right time to begin the transition over to becoming a performance side.
“This means that we’ll be holding trials over the coming months to form the basis of our squad who will then compete in friendlies over the remainder of the 2025 season in addition to taking part in the North Wales 9’s competition.
“We already host several Betfred Women’s Super League players within the EggChaser Lionesses team, and we’ve also entered into discussions with the RFL to have a North Wales Crusaders Women’s side enter the competitive league structure in 2026.
“Our commitment is to delivering a North Wales Crusaders side into the professional ranks of the women’s game in the very near future.
“A shared, and important, principle of both North Wales Crusaders and the wider EggChaser group is that of diversity and equality, and as such we’re excited to be beginning this journey whilst supporting the development of younger women players through both our academy and also the vital work undertaken by the club’s foundation.”
If you’d like to register early interest in attending a player trial or to get involved with our Women’s team, please email enquiries@nwcrusadersrl.com
