List of defunct rugby league clubs

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This is a list of defunct professional rugby league clubs. It does not include reformed rugby league clubs, like the Sheffield Eagles or York City Knights. In these cases the spirit of the clubs, and their location, were unchanged, but the club was a new legal entity with a new administration. Where the club relocated to a significantly different town or area, this club can be considered defunct. This eliminates Fulham, who became the London Crusaders, then the London Broncos who became Harlequins Rugby League

Contents

[edit] Lists of clubs by country

[edit] England

These clubs competed in the Northern Union and the rugby leagues from 1895. National League 3 (2002-2006), whilst not by strict definition amateur, is not recognised as a professional league.

  • Acton & Willesden (1935-1936)
  • Altrincham (1901-1902)
  • Birkenhead Wanderers (1901-1904)
  • Belle Vue Rangers (1946-1955)
Relocation of Broughton Rangers
  • Blackpool Borough (1954-1987)
Became Springfield Borough in 1987
  • Blackpool Gladiators (1992-1993)
Bramley were reformed as Bramley Buffaloes in 2004, joining National League 3.
  • Brighouse Rovers (1895-1906)
  • Carlisle / Carlisle Border Raiders (1981-1997)
Merged with Barrow Braves to become Barrow Border Raiders, now called Barrow Raiders
  • Carlisle City (1928, resigned mid-season)
  • Chorley Borough / Chorley / Chorley Chieftans / Lancashire Lynx / Chorley Lynx (1988-1993, 1995-2004)
Chorley Borough became Trafford Borough in 1989 but there was still a club called Chorley in 1989-1990 who then became Chorley Borough again. They were re-admitted as the Chorley Chieftans who became Lancashire Lynx (playing near to Chorley) and then the Chorley Lynx (back in Chorley). In 2004 the club moved to Blackpool as the Blackpool Panthers
  • Coventry (1910-1913)
  • Goole (1901-1902)
  • Heckmondwike (1896-1899, 1901-1902)
  • Holbeck (1896-1904)
  • Huyton (1968-1985)
  • Kent Invicta (1983-1984)
  • Lancaster (1901-1905)
  • Leeds Parish Church (1896-1903)
  • Liverpool Stanley (1934-1951)
Became Liverpool City in 1951
  • Liversedge (1895-1902)
  • London Highfield (1933-1934)
Wigan Highfield moved south to London in 1933 and played one season, using the White City Stadium. t the end of the season they moved to Liverpool, becoming Liverpool Stanley who became Liverpool City
  • Manningham (1895-1903)
  • Mansfield Marksmen (1984-1989)
  • Millom (1899-1907,still survives as an amateur club)
  • Morecambe (1896-1899,1901-1907)
  • Newcastle (1936-1938)
  • Normanton (1901-1907,still survives as an amateur club)
Continued as an amateur club after relegation from the professional leagues in 1993
  • Pontefract (1903-1906)
  • Prescot Panthers (1996-1997)
  • Radcliffe (1901-1902)
  • Runcorn (and later Runcorn Highfield) (1895-1914)
  • Scarborough Pirates (1991-1992)
  • Southend Invicta (1984-1985)
  • South Shields (1902-1904)
  • Sowerby Bridge (1901-1902)
  • Springfield Borough (1987-1988)
Became Chorley Borough in 1988
  • St Helens Rec (1918-1939)
  • Stockport (1895-1903)
  • Trafford Borough (1989-1992)
Moved back to Blackpool in 1992 as the Blackpool Gladiators
  • Tyldesley (1895-1900)
  • Wigan Highfield (1922-1933)

[edit] Wales

These clubs competed with the English clubs.

  • Aberdare (1908-1909)
  • Barry (1908-1909)
  • Bridgend (1984-1985)
  • Cardiff (1951-1952)
  • Cardiff City (1981-1984)
  • Ebbw Vale (1907-1912)
  • Merthyr Tydfil (1907-1911)
  • Mid-Rhondda (1908-1909)
  • Pontypridd (1926-1927)
  • South Wales (1996)
Lasted one season - by 1996 the season had switched to summer.
  • Treherbert (1908-1910)

[edit] France

[edit] Australia

[edit] First Grade (NSWRL/ARL/Superleague)

This section lists the clubs which have played First Grade (ARL / NRL level) Rugby League in Australia, but do not currently exist in any recognised level. For example, Illawarra Steelers no longer play at the top level as a stand-alone club, however they still compete in SG Ball and Harold Matthews Cup. Also, the Newtown Jets still exist, but only at NSWRL Premier League level.

NB. In 2007, Gold Coast will have a new team in the NRL - the Gold Coast Titans. However, this team is completely different to the one which folded a decade earlier.
NB. Newcastle exist in the modern day competition, in a new form. However, the "original" Newcastle side folded in 1909, and the "modern" Newcastle Knights were formed in 1988.

[edit] First Grade (Queensland)

This section particularly includes the Queensland Rugby League sides which no longer compete in the top level of that league.

[edit] References

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