- 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 RLFC, who became the London Crusaders, then the London Broncos who became Harlequins Rugby League
Contents
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. 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. 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 First year Last Year International Caps Notes Acton & Willesden 1935 1936 Altrincham 1901 1902 Birkenhead Wanderers 1901 1904 Club played at Prenton Park throughout its playing years. Blackpool Borough 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).
Bradford 1864 1907 Switched to association football and became Bradford (Park Avenue). Bramley 1896 1999 Bramley were reformed as Bramley Buffaloes in 2004, joining National League 3. Brighouse Rangers 1895 1906 William Nicholl for England (RU), 1892 against Wales, and Scotland Still survives as an amateur club. Broughton Rangers 1895 1946 James "Jim" Cumberbatch for England (RL), 1937 against France, Moved and renamed Belle Vue Rangers (1946-55) Carlisle 1981 1997 Merged with Barrow Braves to become Barrow Border Raiders, now called Barrow Raiders Carlisle City 1928 1928 Resigned mid season Castleford 1896 1906 J. Cole for England, 1906 against Other Nationalities Unrelated to Castleford/Castleford Tigers (founded 1926), or Castleford (RU) (founded 1870) Chorley Borough 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 1901 1902 J. Tomes for England (RL), 1910 against Wales Goole 1901 1902 Heckmondwike 1896-1899 1901-1902 Donald Jowett for England (RU) 1889-1891 6-caps. Richard "Dicky" Lockwood England (RU) while at Dewsbury and Heckmondwike, 1887-1894 14-caps (Captain Jan-Feb 1894).
John William "Willie" "J. W." Sutcliffe for England (RU) 1889 against New Zealand Natives 02/02/1889 The Spa in Gloucester [1]
Holbeck 1896 1904 Kent Invicta / Southend Invicta 1983 1985 Became Southend Invicta for the 1984/85 season Lancaster 1901 1905 John Pinch for England (RU) 1896 against Wales, and Ireland, and 1897 against Scotland Leeds Parish Church 1896 1901 Liverpool City 1906 1907 The original Liverpool City - unconnected to the Liverpool City which played between 1951 and 1968. Liversedge 1895 1902 Harry Varley, for England (RU) 1892 against Scotland Robert "Bob" Wood, for England (RU) 1894 against Ireland
Manningham 1895 1903 Switched to association football and became Bradford City AFC. Mansfield Marksman / Nottingham City 1984 1993 Moved to Nottingham in 1989 and continued as an amateur club after relegation from the professional leagues in 1993. Millom 1899 1907 Still survives as an amateur club. Morecambe 1896-1899 1901-07 Newcastle 1936 1938 James "Jim" Cumberbatch ,1938 against Wales. Normanton 1901 1907 Still survives as an amateur club Pontefract 1903 1907 Radcliffe 1901 1902 Runcorn 1895 1914 J. Butterworth for England (RL), 1905 against Other Nations. Samuel "Sam" Houghton for England (RU),1892.
James "Jim" Jolley for England (RL) 1908 against Wales, in 1909 against Australia (2 matches), and for Great Britain (RL), 1908 against New Zealand (3 matches).
A. Kennedy for England (RL) 1911 against Wales .
Richard "Dick" Padbury for England (RL) 1908 against Wales and New Zealand, 1909 against Wales, and in 1912 against Wales, and for Great Britain (RL) in 1908-09 against Australia.
Harry Collinge Speakman 1888 British Isles tourist (RU)
S. Walker for England (RL) 1905 against Other Nations.
Scarborough Pirates 1991 1992 South Shields 1902 1904 Sowerby Bridge 1901 1902 St Helens Rec 1918 1939 Reformed as an amateur side in 1949. Stockport 1895 1903 Streatham & Mitcham 1935 1936 Tyldesley 1895 1900 John Berry for England (RU) 1891 against Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. Wigan Highfield/ London Highfield / Liverpool Stanley / Liverpool City / Huyton / Runcorn Highfield / Highfield / Prescot Panthers 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)
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- Merged with XIII Catalan to form Union Treiziste Catalane.
- Marseille XIII (1946-2006)
- Paris Saint-Germain (1996-1997)
- XIII Catalan (1935-2000)
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- 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 Aberdare RLFC 1908 1909 Will Hopkins for Wales 1908 against England Barry RLFC 1908 1908 Ebbw Vale RLFC 1907 1912 Oliver Burgham for Wales 1908 against New Zealand and England John "Jack" Foley for Wales 1909 against England
W. E. 'Chick' Jenkins for Wales 1908-1912 (7-caps)
Lewis Llewellyn for Wales 1910-1912 (4-caps).
Merthyr Tydfil 1907 1911 David Davies for Wales 1909 against England David 'Dai' 'Tarw' Jones for Wales 1908 against New Zealand,
and for Great Britain 1908 against New Zealand (2 matches)
Mid-Rhondda RLFC 1908 1909 Treherbert RLFC 1908 1910 David Galloway (#9) for Wales 1909 and 1910 against England (2 caps) Welsh League (1949-55)
Club First year Last Year International capped players Notes Aberavon RLFC 1949 1955 Mel Ford for Wales while at Aberavon 1951 Amman Valley RLFC 1949 1955 Played at Brewery Field, with Bridgend RFC temporarily moving out. Bridgend RLFC 1949 1955 Cardiff RLFC 1951 1952 Milson Hunt for Wales while at Cardiff in 1951 Glyn Morgan for Wales while at Huddersfield, and Cardiff 1947-1949 4-caps
Ted Ward for Wales while at Wigan, and Cardiff 1946-1951 13-caps, and for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1946 against Australia (2 matches) and New Zealand
Also played in the Llanelli RLFC 1949 1955 Neath RLFC 1949 1955 Roy Lambert for Wales while at Neath, Dewsbury, and Warrington 1950-1952 (7 caps) 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 1926 1927 Ponty Davies won caps for Wales 1926-1927 2-caps, and while at Warrington in 1928 Bert Green for Wales 1926-1927 2-caps
George Oliver for Wales (RU) for Wales (RU) while at Pontypool RFC in 1920 against England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, and for Wales (RL) while at Hull, and Pontypridd 1921-1927 (4-caps)
Billy Rhodes for Wales 1926
Les White for Wales while at Pontypridd and Hunslet 1928-1933 (7-caps)for England while at Hunslet 1933 against Australia, and for Great Britain while at Hunslet in 1932 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (2 matches), and in 1933 Australia (2 matches)
South Wales 1996 - Lasted one season - by 1996 the season had switched to summer.
References
Categories:- Rugby league lists
- Defunct rugby league teams
- Lists of defunct sport organizations
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