NORTH Wales have won their battle to win readmission to the Championship.
The RFL earlier said the Colwyn Bay-based club had earlier withdrawn its application for a full licence after months of negotiations over financial requirements following a change of ownership in May.
Returning owner Jamie Elkaleh revised the club’s business plan and addressed the governing body’s remaining queries, including arrangements for an escrow account.
RFL chief executive Ian Nolan welcomed the outcome, noting that the updated proposal combined with the escrow measures gave confidence in the club’s ability to proceed.
Nolan said: “I’d like to thank Jamie for all his hard work and diligence in getting to this endgame that we all wanted – North Wales Crusaders participating in the Championship and helping our sport flourish.”
Nolan added that the club had “returned with a far more robust proposal which, allied to the escrow we decided to put in place, has left everyone with the belief the club can press on with confidence.”
Elkaleh declared: “It’s my absolute delight to inform you that rugby league is going to continue in the north of Wales, and North Wales Crusaders have successfully obtained our licence for the upcoming season.”
The governing body confirmed that Elkaleh had “revised his business plan and now satisfied all the governing body’s queries.”
Under the agreement the club will play all home games at Colwyn Bay, operate under a sustainability cap and submit monthly financial reports to the RFL.
Nolan described the outcome as “great news for North Wales Crusaders and us, as a sport, as we look forward to the new season.”
North Wales Crusaders had operated under interim membership only for the remainder of the 2026 Championship campaign after previous insolvency issues.
Earlier plans to rebrand and stage some fixtures in other parts of Wales have been set aside for the short term.
Both the club and the RFL have expressed readiness to work together to strengthen the sport in the region ahead of the 2027 season.
