OWAIN ABEL has admitted that his time at North Wales Crusaders hasn’t ended as he would have liked after the fullback left the club.
North Wales stated that he will go on “a different journey after 18 months of fighting injuries”.
The 25-year-old was a big hit in Colwyn Bay after signing ahead of the 2023 season, in which Abel scored nine tries in 17 appearances.
He helped the Crusaders to the League One play-off final, in which they went down 18-6 to Doncaster.
However, Abel was ruled out for the entirety of the 2025 season after suffering an ACL injury during the early stages of the 2024 campaign.
The Welshman’s contribution to the Crusaders had been such that he was rewarded with a new one-year deal for 2026.
But Abel has again failed to make an appearance for North Wales, a hernia problem further setting him back.
He said: “I’d like to thank everyone at Cru for what they’ve done for me.
“It hasn’t ended the way I wanted it to with injuries, but it’s been a pleasure and you fans are the best I’ve seen week in week out. Regardless of the result you are always the loudest.”
Meanwhile, new head coach Krisnan Inu has signed a third player known from his old rugby union club Rossendale.
The addition of Lucas Tyrer, who recently returned to rugby league with Leigh Miners Rangers and has previously been in the youth system at Warrington Wolves and featured for Leigh Leopards’ reserves, follows that of Tomo Clark and Maciu Nabogi.