Exciting news – women’s rugby league history is made in North Wales!

History was made tonight – the first-ever women’s training session for the North Wales Crusaders rugby league club.

X20 Llanelwy – X20 St Asaph Leisure Centre was the venue and will be every Tuesday from now on from 6.30 pm.

The get-together of interested players included some very well-known faces from the North Wales women’s rugby union and football scene.

The name North Wales Crusaders is renowned far and wide as the men’s team competes in RFL League 1 – the third tier of European rugby league, behind the Super League and Betfred Championship.

Formed in 2011, North Wales Crusaders are a professional rugby league club based in Colwyn Bay. They play home matches at Eirias Stadium.

The formation of a women’s team is seen as a natural progression in the development of the Crusaders club.

Last month, Crusaders appointed Becki Davies as head coach of their first ever women’s team. Since then she has not wasted any time in recruiting a very strong and experienced backroom team.

Joining Becki as strength and conditioning coach is North Wales Crusaders men’s Welsh winger Rob Massam, who recently scored his 200th career rugby league try against Oldham.

Appointed alongside Massam is North Wales Crusaders Foundation community officer Jonathan Burgess.

Making up the trio is Dom Dean, who has been involved in coaching since 2013 as he started his coaching career with Leigh East, before moving to assist with coaching for Wigan Warriors women in 2018.

After a further stint of coaching at Leigh East, Dom was given an opportunity at Warrington Lunas women’s team, where he is now the head coach.

North Wales Crusaders and North Wales Crusaders Foundation are launching an exciting women’s and girls’ development programme.

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS – THE HISTORY

The North Wales Crusaders (Croesgadwyr Gogledd Cymru Rygbi’r Gynghrair) is a professional rugby league club based in Colwyn Bay.

Formed in 2011, they are the successors to the former Super League club Crusaders Rugby League.

Crusaders compete in Betfred League 1, the third tier of European rugby league.

Until the end of 2016 they played their home games at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham.

From 2017 to 2020 they were based at the Queensway Stadium in Wrexham, but also played several games at Hare Lane in Chester..

In 2021, the club moved to the Eirias Stadium in Colwyn Bay.

The Crusaders were League 2 champions in 2007 (as Celtic Crusaders), League 1 title-winners in 2013 and lifted the League 1 Cup in 2015.