List of defunct rugby league clubs


This is a list of defunct professional rugby league clubs.

Australia

New South Wales Rugby League (1908-1994)

ClubFirst yearLast YearReason
Annandale19101920
Cumberland19081908
Glebe Dirty Reds19081929Glebe Dirty Reds still exist at New South Wales Cup level.
Newcastle Rebels19081909Newcastle 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 Jets19081983Newtown Jets still exist at New South Wales Cup level. Excluded for financial reasons.
University19201937University were reformed in 2018 and still exist at Sydney Shield level.

ARL (1995-1997), SL (1997) and NRL (1998-)

ClubFirst League
season		Last League
season		ReasonCurrent status
Adelaide Rams19971998Shutdown as part of the ARL and Super League merger to end the Super League war.
Balmain Tigers19081999Merged with the Western Suburbs MagpiesBecame Wests Tigers in 2000
Gold Coast Chargers19881998Shutdown as part of the ARL and Super League merger to end the Super League war.Gold Coast Titans formed in 2007
Hunter Mariners19971997Shutdown as part of the ARL and Super League merger to end the Super League war.
Illawarra Steelers19821998Merged with the St. George DragonsBecame St George Illawarra Dragons in 1999
North Sydney Bears19081999Merged with the Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesBecame Northern Eagles in 2000.
Northern Eagles20002002DisbandedReverted to Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and North Sydney Bears in 2003
St. George Dragons19211998Merged with the Illawarra SteelersBecame St George Illawarra Dragons in 1999
South Queensland Crushers19951997Shutdown as part of the ARL and Super League merger to end the Super League war.
Western Reds19951997Shutdown as part of the ARL and Super League merger to end the Super League war.
Western Suburbs Magpies19081999Merged with the Balmain TigersBecame 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.
ClubFirst yearLast YearReason
Brothers-Valleys20022002
Bundaberg Grizzlies
Cairns Cyclones19961996
Central Capras
Gold Coast Vikings19821995
Logan Scorpions19872002Merged with Souths Magpies to form Souths Logan Magpies.
Mackay Sea Eagles
Past Brothers19171998
Port Moresby Vipers
Sunshine Coast Falcons19961996
Souths Magpies19212002Merged with the Logan Scorpions to form Souths Logan Magpies.
Toowoomba Clydesdales19962006
Townsville Stingers
Wests Panthers19152003

Brisbane Rugby League (1909-1997)

ClubFirst yearLast YearReason
Fortitude Valley Diehards19091995
Milton
Toombul19961996
University19221933

England

These clubs competed in the Rugby Football League from 1895.
ClubFirst League
season		Last League
season		ReasonCurrent status
Acton & Willesden19351936Folded
Altrincham19011902Folded
Birkenhead Wanderers19011904Folded
Blackpool Gladiators19541993Folded
Blackpool Panthers20042010Liquidated in 2011
Bradford F.C.18641907Switched to association footballReformed as Bradford Park Avenue
Bramley18961999FoldedReformed as Bramley Buffaloes in 2004
Brighouse Rangers18951906FoldedReformed as an amateur club.
Broughton Rangers18951955Disbanded
Carlisle19811997Merged with Barrow BravesCurrently known as Barrow Raiders
Carlisle City19281928Resigned mid-season
Castleford RFC18961906DisbandedCastleford Tigers formed in 1926
Chorley Lynx19891995FoldedBlackpool Panthers formed in 2004
Coventry19101913DisbandedCoventry Bears formed in 1999
Gateshead Thunder19991999Merged with Hull F.C. after 1999 seasonReformed as Newcastle Thunder in 2001
Goole19011902Folded
Heckmondwike1896
-1899		1901
-1902		Folded
Holbeck18961904Folded
Hunslet18951973FoldedReformed as New Hunslet in 1973
Kent Invicta /Southend Invicta 19831985Liquidated in 1985
Lancaster19011905Folded
Leeds Parish Church18961901Folded
Liverpool City19061909FoldedAnother Liverpool City formed in 1958 but folded
Liversedge18951902Folded
Manningham18951903Switched to association footballReformed as Bradford City
Nottingham City19841993Resigned from the leagueBecame an amateur club after relegation from the professional leagues in 1993.
Millom18991907FoldedReformed as an amateur club.
Morecambe1896
-1899		1901
-1907		Folded
Newcastle19361938FoldedGateshead Thunder formed in 2001 and were renamed Newcastle Thunder in 2015
Normanton19011907FoldedReformed as an amateur club
Pontefract19031907Folded
Radcliffe19011902Folded
Runcorn18951914Folded
Scarborough Pirates19911992FoldedReformed as an amateur club
Sheffield Eagles 19841999Merged with Huddersfield Giants in 1999Reformed as Sheffield Eagles in 2000
South Shields19021904Folded
Sowerby Bridge19011905Folded
St Helens Recs19181939FoldedReformed as an amateur side Pilkington Recs in 1949
Stockport18951903Folded
Streatham & Mitcham19351936Folded
Tyldesley18951900FoldedReverted to Rugby Union in 1911
Prescot Panthers19021997Folded
York Wasps18952002FoldedReformed as York City Knights

France

Bartercard Cup (2000-)

Welsh League (1908-1909)


ClubFirst yearLast YearInternational capped playersNotes
Aberdare RLFC19081909
  • Will Hopkins for Wales 1908 against England
Barry RLFC19081908
Ebbw Vale RLFC19071912
  • 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
  • Lewis Llewellyn for Wales 1910-1912.
    • Merthyr Tydfil RLFC19071911
  • 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
    • Mid-Rhondda RLFC19081909
    Treherbert RLFC19081910
  • David Galloway for Wales 1909 and 1910 against England

    • Welsh League (1949-55)

    Northern Rugby Football Union (1895- )

    ClubFirst yearLast YearInternational capped playersNotes
    Cardiff City Blue Dragons19811984Relocated and became
    Bridgend Blue Dragons
    before disbanding.
    Pontypridd19261927
    • 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 for Wales while at Pontypool RFC in 1920 against England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, and for Wales while at Hull, and Pontypridd 1921-1927
    • Billy Rhodes for Wales 1926
    • Les White for Wales while at Pontypridd and Hunslet 1928-1933 for England while at Hunslet 1933 against Australia, and for Great Britain while at Hunslet in 1932 against Australia, and New Zealand, and in 1933 Australia
    South Wales1996-Lasted one season -by 1996 the season had switched to summer.
    Celtic Crusaders20052011Initially based in Bridgend, 2010 and 2011 were played in Wrexham as the Crusaders
    South Wales Scorpions20102017Formed when Crusaders relocated to North Wales and placed in the third tier of professional RL. The 2017 season was played under the South Wales Ironmen brand before the team was re-branded and relocated for 2018 as West Wales Raiders.