List of defunct rugby league clubs
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 RLFC, who became the London Crusaders, then the London Broncos who became Harlequins Rugby League
Australia
New South Wales Rugby League (1908-1994)
Club | First year | Last Year | Reason |
---|---|---|---|
Annandale | 1910 | 1920 | |
Cumberland | 1908 | 1908 | |
Glebe Dirty Reds | 1908 | 1929 | |
Newcastle Rebels | 1908 | 1909 | Newcastle exist in the modern day competition, in a new form. The "original" Newcastle side disbanded in 1909 to form the Newcastle competition, and the "modern" Newcastle Knights were formed in 1988. |
Newtown Jets | 1908 | 1983 | Newtown Jets still exist at New South Wales Cup level. Excluded for financial reasons. |
University | 1920 | 1937 | |
ARL (1995-1997), SL (1997) and NRL (1998-)
Club | First Year | Last Year | Reason |
---|---|---|---|
Adelaide Rams | 1997 | 1998 | Shutdown as part of the ARL and Super League merger to end the Super League war. |
Balmain Tigers | 1908 | 1999 | Merged with the Western Suburbs Magpies to become the Wests Tigers in 2000. |
Gold Coast Chargers | 1988 | 1998 | Shutdown as part of the ARL and Super League merger to end the Super League war. |
Hunter Mariners | 1997 | 1997 | Shutdown as part of the ARL and Super League merger to end the Super League war. |
Illawarra Steelers | 1982 | 1998 | Merged with the St. George Dragons to become the St George Illawarra Dragons in 1999. |
North Sydney Bears | 1908 | 1999 | Merged with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles to become the Northern Eagles in 2000. |
Northern Eagles | 2000 | 2002 | Reverted to Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles for the 2003 NRL Season. |
St. George Dragons | 1921 | 1998 | Merged with the Illawarra Steelers to become the St George Illawarra Dragons in 1999. |
South Queensland Crushers | 1995 | 1997 | Shutdown as part of the ARL and Super League merger to end the Super League war. |
Western Reds | 1995 | 1997 | Shutdown as part of the ARL and Super League merger to end the Super League war. |
Western Suburbs Magpies | 1908 | 1999 | Merged with the Balmain Tigers to become the Wests Tigers in 2000. |
The teams listed above, with the exception of Adelaide, Hunter, Gold Coast, Northern Eagles and South Queensland still participate in lower level competitions, including the NSW Cup, S.G. Ball and Harold Matthews competitions.
Queensland Cup (1996-)
This section particularly includes the Queensland Rugby League sides which no longer compete in the top level of that league.
Club | First year | Last Year | Reason |
---|---|---|---|
Brothers-Valleys | 2002 | 2002 | |
Bundaberg Grizzlies | |||
Cairns Cyclones | 1996 | 1996 | |
Central Capras | |||
Gold Coast Vikings | 1982 | 1995 | |
Logan Scorpions | 1987 | 2002 | Merged with Souths Magpies to form Souths Logan Magpies. |
Mackay Sea Eagles | |||
Past Brothers | 1917 | 1998 | |
Port Moresby Vipers | |||
Sunshine Coast Falcons | 1996 | 1996 | |
Souths Magpies | 1921 | 2002 | Merged with the Logan Scorpions to form Souths Logan Magpies. |
Toowoomba Clydesdales | 1996 | 2006 | |
Townsville Stingers | |||
Wests Panthers | 1915 | 2003 | |
Brisbane Rugby League (1909-1997)
Club | First year | Last Year | Reason |
---|---|---|---|
Fortitude Valley Diehards | 1909 | 1995 | |
Milton | |||
Toombul | 1996 | 1996 | |
University | 1922 | 1933 | |
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.
Club | Area | First year | Last Year | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Acton & Willesden | London | 1935 | 1936 | |
Altrincham | Cheshire | 1901 | 1902 | |
Birkenhead Wanderers | Cheshire | 1901 | 1904 | Club played at Prenton Park throughout its playing years. |
Blackpool Borough | Lancashire | 1954 | 1993 | Became Springfield Borough (1987–88); Chorley Borough (1988); Trafford Borough (1989–92).
Moved back to Blackpool in 1992 as Blackpool Gladiators (1992–93). |
Blackpool Panthers | Lancashire | 2004 | 2010 | Created as separate entity formed from the remains of Chorley Borough/Lancashire Lynx. |
Bradford | Yorkshire | 1864 | 1907 | Switched to association football and became Bradford (Park Avenue). |
Bramley | Yorkshire | 1896 | 1999 | Bramley were reformed as Bramley Buffaloes in 2004, joining National League 3. |
Brighouse Rangers | Yorkshire | 1895 | 1906 | Still survives as an amateur club. |
Broughton Rangers | Lancashire | 1895 | 1946 | Moved and renamed Belle Vue Rangers (1946–55) |
Carlisle | Cumbria | 1981 | 1997 | Merged with Barrow Braves to become Barrow Border Raiders, now called Barrow Raiders |
Carlisle City | Cumberland | 1928 | 1928 | Resigned mid-season |
Castleford | Yorkshire | 1896 | 1906 | Unrelated to Castleford/Castleford Tigers (founded 1926), or Castleford (RU) (founded 1870) |
Chorley Borough | Lancashire Greater Manchester | 1989 | 1995 | Moved to Altrincham and became Trafford Borough in 1989, causing a boardroom split leading to the formation of a new Chorley Borough club.
Dropped from the league and re-admitted as the Chorley Chieftains who after moving to Preston became Lancashire Lynx and then Chorley Lynx (back in Chorley). In 2004 the club folded. New club formed in Blackpool as Blackpool Panthers. |
Coventry | Warwickshire | 1910 | 1913 | |
Goole | Yorkshire | 1901 | 1902 | |
Heckmondwike | Yorkshire | 1896 -1899 | 1901 -1902 | |
Holbeck | Yorkshire | 1896 | 1904 | |
Kent Invicta / Southend Invicta | Kent Essex | 1983 | 1985 | Became Southend Invicta for the 1984/85 season |
Lancaster | Lancashire | 1901 | 1905 | |
Leeds Parish Church | Yorkshire | 1896 | 1901 | |
Liverpool City | Lancashire | 1906 | 1909 | The original Liverpool City - unconnected to the Liverpool City which played between 1951 and 1968. |
Liversedge | Yorkshire | 1895 | 1902 | |
Manningham | Yorkshire | 1895 | 1903 | Switched to association football and became Bradford City AFC. |
Mansfield Marksman/ Nottingham City | Nottinghamshire | 1984 | 1993 | Moved to Nottingham in 1989 and continued as an amateur club after relegation from the professional leagues in 1993. |
Millom | Cumberland | 1899 | 1907 | Still survives as an amateur club. |
Morecambe | Lancashire | 1896 -1899 | 1901 -1907 | |
Newcastle | Northumberland | 1936 | 1938 | |
Normanton | Yorkshire | 1901 | 1907 | Still survives as an amateur club |
Pontefract | Yorkshire | 1903 | 1907 | |
Radcliffe | Lancashire | 1901 | 1902 | |
Runcorn | Cheshire | 1895 | 1914 | |
Scarborough Pirates | North Yorkshire | 1991 | 1992 | |
South Shields | Northumberland | 1902 | 1904 | |
Sowerby Bridge | Yorkshire | 1901 | 1902 | |
St Helens Rec | Lancashire | 1918 | 1939 | Reformed as an amateur side in 1949 |
Stockport | Cheshire | 1895 | 1903 | |
Streatham & Mitcham | London | 1935 | 1936 | |
Tyldesley | Lancashire | 1895 | 1900 | Reverted back to Rugby Union (1911) after some years in lower leagues. |
Wigan Highfield / London Highfield / Liverpool Stanley / Liverpool City / Huyton / Runcorn Highfield / Highfield / Prescot Panthers | Lancashire London Cheshire Merseyside | 1922 | 1997 | Wigan Highfield moved to London in 1933 and played one season as London Highfield.
At the end of the season they moved to Liverpool, becoming Liverpool Stanley (1934-51) and Liverpool City (1951-68). Left Liverpool and continued as Huyton (1969-85); Runcorn Highfield (1985-90); Highfield (1991-96) and Prescot Panthers (1996-97). |
France
- AS Saint Estève (1965-2000)
- Merged with XIII Catalan to form Union Treiziste Catalane.
- Marseille XIII (1946-2006)
- Paris Saint-Germain (1996-1997)
- XIII Catalan (1935-2000)
- Merged with AS Saint Estève to form Union Treiziste Catalane.
New Zealand
Bartercard Cup (2000-)
- Eastern Tornadoes (2000 - 2005)
- Marist Richmond Brothers (2000 - 2005)
- North Harbour Tigers (2003 - 2005)
- Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards (2004 - 2005)
- Porirua Pumas (2000 - 2001)
- Taranaki Wildcats (2002 - 2003)
Lion Red Cup (1994-1996)
- Auckland City Vulcans (1994)
- Canterbury Country Cardinals (1994-6)
- Christchurch City Shiners (1994-6)
- Counties Manukau Heroes (1994-6)
- Hutt Valley Firehawks (1994-6)
- North Harbour Sea Eagles (1994-6)
- Waitakere City Raiders (1994-6)
- Wellington City Dukes (1994-6)
Wales
Welsh League (1908 - 1909)
(these teams also competed in the Northern Rugby Football Union)
Club | First year | Last Year | International capped players | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aberdare RLFC | 1908 | 1909 |
|
|
Barry RLFC | 1908 | 1908 | ||
Ebbw Vale RLFC | 1907 | 1912 |
|
|
Merthyr Tydfil RLFC | 1907 | 1911 |
|
|
Mid-Rhondda RLFC | 1908 | 1909 | ||
Treherbert RLFC | 1908 | 1910 |
|
|
Welsh League (1949-55)
Club | First year | Last Year | International capped players | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aberavon RLFC | 1949 | 1955 |
|
|
Amman Valley RLFC | 1949 | 1955 | Played at Brewery Field, with Bridgend RFC temporarily moving out. | |
Bridgend RLFC | 1949 | 1955 | ||
Cardiff RLFC | 1951 | 1952 |
|
Also played in the |
Llanelli RLFC | 1949 | 1955 | ||
Neath RLFC | 1949 | 1955 |
|
|
Swansea RLFC | 1949 | 1955 | ||
Ystradgynlais RLFC | 1949 | 1955 | ||
Northern Rugby Football Union (1895- )
Club | First year | Last Year | International capped players | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cardiff City Blue Dragons | 1981 | 1984 | Relocated and became
Bridgend Blue Dragons (1984-1985) before disbanding. | |
Pontypridd RLFC[1] | 1926 | 1927 |
|
|
South Wales | 1996 | - | Lasted one season -
by 1996 the season had switched to summer. | |
Celtic Crusaders | 2005 | 2011 | Initially based in Bridgend, 2010 and 2011 were played in Wrexham as the Crusaders | |