ANDY MOULSDALE insists the Rugby Football League have made a “sensible decision” by scrapping North Wales Crusaders’ 2020 League One campaign.

The RFL confirmed this week that the Super League season is to have no relegation and this year’s Championship and League One campaigns will not resume following a board meeting.

A statement from the RFL said: “There will be no relegation from the 11-team Betfred Super League in 2020 – for reasons of integrity, player welfare and also to protect the solvency of clubs.

“The Betfred Championship and League One seasons will not resume in 2020 – this follows the Government announcement last week identifying October as the earliest opportunity for the return of crowds to sport, and the finding of a survey of Championship and League One clubs that a majority in each competition would not support playing matches behind closed doors.

“Again, the issue of protecting the solvency of clubs informed this decision.”

Crusaders had played two League One matches this season, winning 40-16 at London Skolars, before losing 29-6 to Hunslet Hawks, who also knocked the Wrexham-based side out of the Challenge Cup.

Chief executive Moulsdale reflected on the decision made by the RFL, saying: “It has made things a little bit easier that a decision has been made and we know where we are at in terms of this season.

“It’s been a tough couple of months and we’ve been in limbo waiting to see if we were going to start, when we might start and what the season would look like if we did return.

“It’s been tough for the RFL, who have had a lot to consider and in the grand scheme of things this is the only decision they could realistically make.

“To only play 10 or 11 games this season and decide promotion and relegation wouldn’t have been fair, so a sensible decision has been made.”

Despite the League One season being abandoned, Crusaders will have the chance to play some more rugby this year - should the numbers add up.

Second and third tier clubs will be invited to play in a competition this autumn, which has a £250,000 prize pot.

The RFL statement explained: “The Championship and League One clubs will be invited to play in a competition this autumn, with a theme of celebrating the sport’s 125th anniversary – and with a prize pot of £250,000, thanks in part to financial support from the Super League clubs.

“Further details of this competition will follow this week – it will be voluntary, and there will be a detailed application process requiring clubs to prove their ability to meet the necessary protocols and medical standards.

“There will be no automatic promotion to the Super League from this competition.”

Moulsdale insists that Crusaders will wait to hear further details about the competition before making a decision on whether to take to the field.

“It was only announced on Monday night, so we need to see what the details are before confirming whether we enter or not,” said Moulsdale. “We don’t know enough about the competition yet to say yes or no.”

Also discussed was Toronto Wolfpack’s withdrawal from Super League for the remainder of the season, which had been announced by the club earlier in the day.