Wigan Warriors will take a youthful side to one of their pre-season friendlies this weekend, as the club prepare to take on North Wales Crusaders.
In what will be the Warriors’ first game of 2026, a squad that involves youngsters and reserve team players will make the trip over the border, as they look to get their first minutes of the new season under their belt.
North Wales have already had two pre-season games. They were emerged victorious over Swinton Lions in a game that took place before Christmas, before they travelled to Cumbria to face Barrow Raiders in the period between Christmas and New Year.
The Crusaders lost that match 50-24, with former St Helens player Tee Ritson opening the scoring for the hosts in the opening few minutes.
Their third and final fixture will see them host the Warriors, and as it stands that game will see the side break a club record.
North Wales are currently on track to post their highest ever crowd figure, and whilst the official number won’t be revealed until after the game, it is still an amazing achievement for the Championship side, particularly considering it is a warm-up fixture.
The Cru’s current record attendance at a home game sits at 1,088, with that number being set at their home game against Widnes Vikings in the 1895 Cup in 2024. Stadiwm Eirias can hold up to 6,080 fans on a gameday, and whilst we don’t know how much the record will increase by, it is a sign of positive trajectory for the Welsh outfit.
For details of every pre-season friendly taking place ahead of the 2026 season, including Wigan’s second warm-up fixture, click here.
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