IT is a sad day for rugby league in Wales, with a former divisional rival of the Bradford Bulls and Keighley Cougars departing the professional game.

West Wales Raiders have announced that they will not be partaking in League 1 next season after five seasons in the third tier.

They turned professional in 2018, having been founded as an amateur club in 2015 by Andrew Thorne.

Chairman Thorne and CEO Peter Tiffin are trying to be positive though, and are hopeful that a new professional club in Wales can take up the mantle instead of the Raiders.

In a club statement, Tiffin said: "It’s taken Andrew and I a long time to come to this decision.

"It’s been a difficult one to make as we have grown the club from an amateur club back in Mynydd y Garreg to playing against the likes of Bradford Bulls and Widnes at Stebonheath Park.

"Raiders was something that we both were proud to say we created from scratch, there have been so many highlights that it would be hard just to state a few.

"I want to thank every single person who has been involved with the club from day one to now as without you, the club could have never been able to continue.

"The players, staff, sponsors, directors, supporters, volunteers and many others who have been involved, I want to thank you all for every single effort you have shown to the club.

"I hope you continue within the game and support WRL (Wales Rugby League) with their efforts on the future of the sport within Wales.

"Myself and Andrew will continue to support both the RFL (Rugby Football League) and WRL and endeavour to try and find a new group to keep a club within the professional ranks from Wales."

Bulls scored over a century of points against the Raiders in their two games against them in 2018, winning 124-0 at Odsal and 104-0 at Stebonheath Park.

Cougars beat West Wales twice on their way to the 2022 League 1 title, though given Keighley's dominance in the third tier meant they won every game last season, the Raiders did well to only lose 46-4 at Stebonheath Park.

It was a little more clearcut in the return game at Cougar Park, Keighley winning that clash 86-0.

But the Raiders did achieve just their second-ever win in the professional game in 2022, travelling to new boys Cornwall and beating them 20-0 in a League 1 clash in mid-May.

Their only other victory in the third tier came back in July 2019, when they stunned visiting Coventry Bears with a 44-16 victory at Stebonheath Park.

Famous rugby names such as Rangi Chase and Gavin Henson played for West Wales during their time in League 1, which is sadly now over.