NORTH WALES CRUSADERS chiefs have met RFL officials to discuss their plans going forward.

There are suggestions the group who revived the Colwyn Bay outfit following an insolvency event in May want to widen the footprint of the club by playing some matches at Brewery Field in Bridgend in the south of the country next year.

Crusaders, whose initial RFL membership licence was for the remainder of 2026, have already announced their intention to create a country-wide development pathway and start a second team based in South Wales.

They want to link into the Wales Rugby League Under 19 programme and provide extra opportunities for career progression.

Crusaders’ Colwyn Bay base is the 6,000-capacity Stadiwm Eirias (pictured), to where the club, founded in late 2011, moved from Wrexham in 2021.

Brewery Field is home to rugby union side Bridgend Ravens and has a capacity of around 8,000.

There is a history of professional Rugby League being played in the town which is equidistant between Cardiff and Swansea.

Bridgend Blue Dragons (previously Cardiff City Blue Dragons) featured in 1985-85 using the old Coychurch Road non-league football ground.

And as well as staging a number of Wales internationals, Brewery Field hosted Celtic Crusaders club between their formation in 2005 and 2009 after which they switched to Wrexham and dropped Celtic from their name.

The disbanding of that club in 2011 was followed by the formation of North Wales Crusaders.

The current club, who have appointed former assistant Stuart Simmons as coach for 2027 and 2028, said via social media: “This is where the next chapter begins.

“Homes and venues for Welsh Rugby League to match our ambition. Venues that put our players, our fans and our community on the biggest stage.

“Wales Crusaders. One nation. One club.”