Crusaders Drop Out of Super League as Licence Renewals Announced

Rugby League’s Super League competition has announced the teams that have secured a licence for next season’s competition. League bosses have said that Crusaders will drop out of the competition in 2012 after withdrawing their application for a licence renewal.

Widnes had already had their promotion from the Championship confirmed for next season and with no league expansion planned, one of the current Super League clubs was certain to be demoted.

In an announcement made this morning, the Rugby Football League confirmed that Crusaders will make way for the Vikings in what will be the only change to the competition’s make up.

Wakefield were thought to be the club most at risk of losing their place, but the Wildcats have had their licence renewed and are given an unexpected reprieve.

Halifax were in the running to join Widnes as a new Super League club but their bid for a licence ultimately proved unsuccessful.

Harlequins and Castleford were also thought to be under threat of demotion but as expected have been given new three-year licences.