Hope for South Wales as new Championship One club forms

A press conference on Tuesday formally confirmed the Crusaders’ switch to Wrexham, but fans of rugby league in the south have a new team to follow. Backed by businessman Phil Davies and Welsh Rugby League chief Mark Rowley, South Wales RLFC will be playing out of Neath in next season’s Championship One.

The Crusaders formally announced the move to Wrexham on Tuesday at a press conference in North Wales. 

After four seasons in Bridgend, the club will not relocate to Newport’s Rodney Parade as planned. The Saders will instead move 125 miles north, playing 11 of their 13 home games at Wrexham AFC’s Racecourse Ground. 

This week’s announcement has ended weeks of intense speculation about the club’s future. 

A lack of funding in South Wales forced the club to look elsewhere – and Wrexham AFC chairman Geoff Moss stepped forward. The move will help seal the football club’s future, suggesting that income generated by the Crusaders will go towards funding the struggling Conference club. 

Club officials have promised to contact all fans that have already purchased season tickets and offer them a full refund. 

The move has left many fans hugely disillusioned. Few fromthe south are expected to continue supporting the club, with angry South Walian supporters flocking voicing their despondency. 

However, there is hope for rugby league fans in South Wales. A new club has been established and will play out of the Gnoll in Neath from next season. The RFL have confirmed that the club will play in Championship One next season – though registration came too late for entry into the Challenge Cup or Northern Rail Cup. 

South Wales RLFC will have a link-up agreement in place with the Crusaders – a deal which could see fringe and youth Saders plying their trade at Neath – but the club is ultimately an independent entity with its own ambitious plans for the future. 

Officials have confirmed that the club hopes to be in the Championship within two years, and launch a bid for a Super League application in 2015. But - in the short term, it’s just great that an RL club will remainin South Wales after the debacle with the Saders! 

The club plays its opening fixture on February 28^that home to Workington Town– and will be holding open trials in January. Club owner Davies has kindly been on the messageboard this week talking to fans, and we hope to arrange an interview over the next week. 

The club are currently drawing up plans concerning the club’s name, whilst the colours are expected to be black & pink. 

Viva la South WalesRLFC!