Rugby league’s record loss but Crusaders win survivalFigure caption, ‘A huge, dark cloud has been lifted from this place’ByAled WilliamsBBC Sport WalesPublished45 minutes agoThey may have an unwanted place in rugby league history but the recent tale of North Wales Crusaders is one of survival.Their 134-0 defeat by London Broncos was the biggest loss of any side in the top two divisions in the 131-year history of rugby league.
It was the third time the team had conceded 100 points in the Championship this season – also an unwanted record.
But heavy defeats have been the least of the problems faced by the crisis-hit club who were “hours from extinction” a few weeks ago, when fielding a team at all was a remarkable feat.
Sean Long was enjoying a family break during the spring when he received a call to arms to help a club that was on the brink of folding.
“So I’m in Center Parcs and my phone starts going,” reported Long as he recalled his sudden elevation to lead the troubled side.
“We need a squad in three days. Where can we find them?”
With nine games played, Championship club Crusaders were in deep trouble.
The previous owners had declared they would no longer fund the Colwyn Bay-based club, who only a few months earlier had won the League One title.
Players had not been paid for weeks and with their contracts null and void, they left the club – resulting in two games being cancelled.
A group of supporters and volunteers rallied and a new company, NW Rugby League 26 Ltd, was formed and granted an interim licence by the Rugby Football League (RFL).
Long, head coach of the club’s women’s and development teams, had only a few days to put a team together to fulfill their fixture at Goole Vikings on 9 May.
