Crusaders suffer record 134-0 defeat in Championship collapse
London Broncos complete perfect season as insolvency-hit Crusaders concede 25 tries in Colwyn Bay
The North Wales Crusaders have suffered the heaviest defeat in the history of the top two divisions of rugby league, losing 134-0 to the London Broncos at Stadiwm CSM in Colwyn Bay. The result marks a historic low for the club, which conceded 25 tries in a single match during its first season in the Championship.
The scoreline stands as the biggest defeat recorded in the sport’s 131-year history for the top two tiers, falling just 10 points short of the all-time record set when York Knights defeated the North Wales Raiders 144-0 in 2018. London Broncos’ Emarly Bitungane opened the scoring in the first minute, while centre Brandon Webster-Mansfield led the try-scoring with five.
The defeat leaves the Crusaders at the bottom of the Championship table on -6 points. This position follows a 12-point deduction imposed at the start of the season due to insolvency and a change of ownership. The club has now lost 11 of its 14 matches this season, having previously conceded 100 points on two other occasions, including a 106-18 loss to the same opponents earlier in the campaign.
In stark contrast, the London Broncos remain undefeated at the summit of the table with 14 wins from 14 matches. The victory extends their perfect start to the season, reinforcing their status as the dominant force in the second tier of the sport, which sits below the Super League.
The Crusaders secured promotion to the Championship by winning League One in 2025, but their tenure in the higher division has been marred by on-field struggles and off-field financial restructuring. The current standings reflect a significant disparity in performance, with the Broncos maintaining an unblemished record while the Crusaders navigate a challenging campaign amidst administrative penalties.
