Earlier this year, we announced that we were sponsoring the North Wales Crusaders professional rugby league club to bring our enthusiasm for sports and community across the pond.
It was a no-brainer to support the North Wales Crusaders as they do so much to lift their community and provide opportunities for players and supporters at all levels to participate in a sport they love.
This season, the Crusaders Men’s Club showed their resilience and determination, making it to the League One play-off final, where they competed against perennial powerhouse Doncaster on the road at Eco-Power Stadium.
Although they ultimately were defeated, 18-6, the Crusaders had a fantastic run that will inspire them to work even harder to try again for promotion next season.
There Was No Quitting for the Crusaders in Their Amazing Turnaround
The Crusaders had a challenging start to the season, losing their first few matches. They even had to play a few “home” matches on the road as a new pitch was being laid in Parc Eirias, their home ground.
But things started to come together, players returned from injury, and it was clear the Crusaders were a different club by the play-offs.
Led by player-coach Carl Forster, they knocked off several teams that finished higher in the table than them, including second-place Hunslet.
Their match against third-place Doncaster was a thrilling conclusion to the season, and the club should hold their heads high for their remarkable effort.
2023 was also special as it marked an inaugural series of friendlies for the newly formed Crusaders Women’s Club. Led by head coach Becki Davies, they won their debut match against the Heysham Atoms and were undefeated in competitive action.
We couldn’t be happier for the Crusaders and encourage you to check out their website and learn more about what they mean to the Welsh rugby community.
It was a fantastic year, and we at Garvey look forward to watching the Crusaders accomplish even more incredible feats in 2024.