Championship club North Wales Crusaders have confirmed the immediate departure of Jack Houghton by mutual consent.
Houghton has been with the Crusaders for much of his rugby league career, but on the eve of the new season, he has been released by the club.
The forward first joined the Welsh outfit in 2017 and while he did have a spell with Swinton Lions in 2014, where he made 18 appearances, he has racked up over 140 appearances for the Crusaders.
His next step is yet to be confirmed, but he leaves North Wales as a champion, after playing 20 times and scoring one try in the Crusaders’ League One title-winning campaign in 2025.
Houghton has been a part of Dean Muir’s pre-season, featuring in the win over Swinton, and the head coach has commented on the club’s latest departure: “Jack will add value to any club, he has trained incredibly well in the pre-season, and on behalf of North Wales Crusaders I want to thank him for his loyalty and commitment over the years.”
Speaking on the reason for his departure, Houghton said: “I can see what Dean and the club are building, the squad looks immense and in a way I am sorry to leave.
“I just feel that the time is right and I can look forward to developing a new phase of my rugby career.”
The decision means Houghton has become the 13th player to leave the Crusaders since the end of the League One season. That includes Ben Evans and Matt Reid, who have both retired, while Jamie Dallimore, Matty Unsworth, Kieran Taylor, Jake Holmes, Sam Wilde, Toby Hughes, Paddy Jones, Olly Davies, Ryan Ellis and Pat Rainford have also moved on.
They have been replaced by some high profile names as the club prepare for the new Championship season with Dec Patton, Greg Eden and Pat Moran arriving alongside the likes of Jayden Hatton, Charlie Glover, Ashton Robinson, Brad England and others.
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