This is a list of defunct professional rugby league clubs.
Australia
New South Wales Rugby League (1908–1994)
ClubFirst yearLast YearReasonAnnandale19101920Cumberland19081908Glebe Dirty Reds19081929 Glebe 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 LeagueseasonLast LeagueseasonReasonCurrent status 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 MagpiesBecame 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.Gold Coast Titans formed in 2007 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 Became St George Illawarra Dragons in 1999 North Sydney Bears 1908 1999 Merged with the Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesBecame Northern Eagles in 2000. Northern Eagles 2000 2002Disbanded Reverted to Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and North Sydney Bears in 2003 St. George Dragons 1921 1998 Merged with the Illawarra Steelers Became 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 Became 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 YearReasonBrothers-Valleys20022002Bundaberg Grizzlies Cairns Cyclones19961996Central CaprasGold Coast Vikings19821995Logan Scorpions19872002Merged with Souths Magpies to form Souths Logan Magpies.Mackay Sea EaglesPast Brothers19171998Port Moresby VipersSunshine Coast Falcons19961996Souths Magpies19212002Merged with the Logan Scorpions to form Souths Logan Magpies.Toowoomba Clydesdales19962006Townsville StingersWests Panthers19152003
Brisbane Rugby League (1909–1997)
ClubFirst yearLast YearReasonFortitude Valley Diehards19091995Milton Toombul19961996University19221933
England These clubs competed in the Rugby Football League from 1895.
ClubFirst LeagueseasonLast LeagueseasonReasonCurrent statusActon & Willesden19351936Folded Altrincham19011902FoldedBirkenhead Wanderers19011904FoldedBlackpool Gladiators19541993Folded Blackpool Panthers20042010Liquidated in 2011Bradford F.C.18641907Switched to association footballReformed as Bradford Park AvenueBramley18961999FoldedReformed as Bramley Buffaloes in 2004Brighouse Rangers18951906FoldedReformed as an amateur club. Broughton Rangers18951955DisbandedCarlisle19811997Merged with Barrow BravesCurrently known as Barrow RaidersCarlisle City19281928Resigned mid-seasonCastleford RFC18961906DisbandedCastleford Tigers formed in 1926 Chorley Lynx19892004FoldedBlackpool Panthers formed in 2004 Coventry19101913DisbandedCoventry Bears formed in 1999 Gateshead Thunder19991999Merged with Hull F.C. after 1999 seasonReformed as Newcastle Thunder in 2001Goole19011902FoldedHeckmondwike18961902FoldedHolbeck18961904Folded Hunslet F.C.18951973Folded Reformed as New Hunslet in 1973Kent Invicta (1983–84)/Southend Invicta (1984–85)19831985Liquidated in 1985Lancaster19011905FoldedLeeds Parish Church18961901FoldedLiverpool City19061909FoldedAnother Liverpool City formed in 1958 but foldedLiversedge18951902FoldedManningham18951903Switched to association footballReformed as Bradford CityNottingham City19841993Resigned from the leagueBecame an amateur club after relegation from the professional leagues in 1993.Millom18971906ResignedReverted to amateur status and joined Cumberland Senior Competition.Morecambe18961901FoldedNewcastle19361938FoldedGateshead Thunder formed in 2001 and were renamed Newcastle Thunder in 2015Normanton19011907FoldedReformed as an amateur clubPontefract19031907FoldedRadcliffe19011902FoldedRuncorn18951914FoldedScarborough Pirates19911992FoldedReformed as an amateur club Sheffield Eagles (1984)19841999Merged with Huddersfield Giants in 1999Reformed as Sheffield Eagles in 2000South Shields19021904FoldedSowerby Bridge19011905FoldedSt Helens Recs19181939FoldedReformed as an amateur side Pilkington Recs in 1949Stockport18951903FoldedStreatham & Mitcham19351936FoldedTyldesley18951900 FoldedReverted to Rugby Union in 1911Prescot Panthers19021997Folded York Wasps18952002FoldedReformed as York City Knights in 2002
France
AS Saint Estève (1965–2000) Merged with XIII Catalan to form Union Treiziste Catalane. Celtic de Paris (1950-197?) Marseille XIII (1946–2006) Paris Saint-Germain (1996–1997) XIII Catalan (1935–2000) 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 YearInternational capped playersNotesAberdare RLFC19081909Will Hopkins for Wales 1908 against England Barry RLFC19081908 Ebbw Vale RLFC19071912Oliver 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 RLFC19071911David 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 RLFC19081909 Treherbert RLFC19081910David Galloway (#9) for Wales 1909 and 1910 against England (2 caps)
Welsh League (1949–55) Club First year Last YearInternational capped playersNotes Aberavon RLFC 19491955Melvyn Ford for Wales while at Aberavon 1951 Amman Valley RLFC 19491955 Played at Brewery Field, with Bridgend RFC temporarily moving out. Bridgend RLFC 19491955 Cardiff RLFC 19511952Milson 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
Northern Rugby Football Union Llanelli RLFC 19491955 Neath RLFC 19491955Roy Lambert for Wales while at Neath, Dewsbury, and Warrington 1950–1952 (7 caps) Swansea RLFC 19491955 Ystradgynlais RLFC 19491955
Northern Rugby Football Union (1895–)
Club First year Last YearInternational capped playersNotesCardiff City Blue Dragons19811984 Relocated and became
Bridgend Blue Dragons (1984–1985)
before disbanding.Pontypridd19261927Ponty 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 Wales1996 - Lasted one season -
by 1996 the season had switched to summer.Celtic Crusaders20052011 Initially based in Bridgend, 2010 and 2011 were played in Wrexham as the CrusadersSouth Wales Scorpions20102017 Formed when Crusaders relocated to North Wales and placed in the third tier of (semi) 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. West Wales Raiders 20182022 Formed when South Wales Ironmen were re-branded and moved to Llanelli by amateur club Gwendraeth Valley Raiders and renamed West Wales Raiders.Club folded 2022.
See also List of defunct rugby league clubs in the United States
References
External links All league tables for the UK pro game since 1895