East Leeds, Moldgreen Suspended by RFL After Match Trouble; Leeds, 2026

Key Points

• East Leeds RLFC and Moldgreen RLFC from West Yorkshire have been suspended by the Rugby Football League (RFL)
• Suspension covers open-age, youth, and junior teams until the weekend of June 6/7, 2026
• Primary Rugby League age groups remain unaffected by the suspension
• East Leeds had three players sent off during their National League Division One match against Dewsbury Moor
• Moldgreen’s fixture against Thornhill Trojans was abandoned in the second half due to crowd trouble
• Both incidents occurred on Saturday, May 16, 2026
• The RFL described the behaviour as “unacceptable” with referee abuse involved
• The decision follows separate games at both clubs over the same weekend

Leeds (The Leeds Times) May 22, 2026 – Two rugby league clubs from West Yorkshire, including East Leeds RLFC, have been suspended from all rugby league activity following serious incidents involving referee abuse and crowd trouble at separate matches last weekend. The Rugby Football League (RFL) announced the suspension on Friday, halting competitions for open-age, youth, and junior teams at both East Leeds and Huddersfield-based Moldgreen RLFC until the weekend of June 6/7.

Why Were Three Players Sent Off at East Leeds’ Match Against Dewsbury Moor?

As reported by the West Yorkshire Evening Post, angry scenes erupted at East Leeds’ ground when three players received red cards during their National League Division One fixture against visiting Dewsbury Moor. The match, which took place on Saturday, May 16, 2026, saw escalating tensions that resulted in the dismissals.

The RFL statement specifically cited “unacceptable behaviour” occurring at both clubs, with referee abuse being a central factor in the disciplinary action.

The three sending-offs at East Leeds represented a significant breakdown in discipline during what should have been a routine National League Division One contest.

According to the RFL’s official statement, the incidents involving East Leeds RLFC on Saturday, May 16, directly contributed to the governing body’s decision to suspend all rugby league activity at the club.

How Was Moldgreen’s Match Against Thornhill Trojans Abandoned?

The second incident occurred at Moldgreen RLFC’s ground, where a National League Yorkshire A fixture between the Huddersfield-based club and Dewsbury-based visitors Thornhill Trojans was forced to end prematurely.

As reported on Total Rugby League forums, the match was abandoned in the second half following crowd trouble that made continuation impossible.

According to match reports from Total Rugby League, Moldgreen loose forward Ryan Butterworth had broken clear and evaded the advancing Thornhill defence to charge over for what appeared to be a legitimate try before the crowd disturbance forced the abandonment.

The abandonment represents a serious breach of operational rules, as matches must be completed unless extraordinary circumstances prevent continuation.

What Did the RFL State About the Suspension Decision?

The Rugby Football League issued an official statement clarifying the scope and duration of the suspension. An RFL spokesperson stated:

“Following incidents involving East Leeds RLFC and Moldgreen RLFC on Saturday 16 May, the RFL has taken the decision to suspend rugby league activity involving open-age, youth and junior teams at both clubs until the weekend of 6/7 June. This suspension does not apply to Primary Rugby League age groups”.

The statement emphasised that the suspension was a direct response to the incidents on May 16, with the RFL taking a firm stance on maintaining standards of behaviour across all levels of the sport. The governing body’s compliance department reviewed both incidents before making the joint suspension decision.

Which Teams and Age Groups Are Affected by the RFL Suspension?

The suspension applies comprehensively across both clubs’ competitive structures. All open-age teams, which typically compete in senior leagues, are suspended alongside youth and junior teams participating in age-grade competitions.

This means that East Leeds and Moldgreen cannot field any teams in these categories until competitions resume on June 6/7, 2026.

However, the RFL explicitly exempted Primary Rugby League age groups from the suspension. These younger age categories, typically involving children in primary school years, can continue their rugby league activities as normal.

This distinction suggests the RFL recognised that the unacceptable behaviour originated from older participants and spectators rather than the youngest players.

What Does This Mean for West Yorkshire Rugby League?

The suspension marks a significant disruption to rugby league in West Yorkshire, affecting two clubs from the region’s competitive landscape. East Leeds, based in East Leeds, represents one of the sport’s traditional strongholds in the city, while Moldgreen from Huddersfield brings the total affected clubs to two from West Yorkshire.

As noted in social media coverage from the YEP newspaper, the RFL emphasised that

“passion and rivalry are part of the game, but crowd trouble and abuse have no place in rugby league. Young players, families and supporters deserve a safe and respectful environment”.

This statement underscores the governing body’s commitment to protecting the sport’s participants at all levels.

Background of the Development

The suspension of East Leeds RLFC and Moldgreen RLFC represents the RFL’s enforcement of its operational rules following two separate incidents on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

The Rugby Football League, the governing body for rugby league in the United Kingdom, has compliance procedures in place to address serious breaches of conduct involving referee abuse, crowd trouble, and match abandonment.

The incidents occurred during National League competitions, with East Leeds playing in National League Division One against Dewsbury Moor and Moldgreen competing in National League Yorkshire A against Thornhill Trojans. Both fixtures are part of the semi-professional and amateur pyramid structure beneath the Super League, where disciplinary standards remain strictly enforced.

The RFL’s disciplinary system was overhauled ahead of the 2025 season, introducing a new points-based system for determining player bans.

Under this radical change, players accumulate points on their record based on charge severity, with different grades carrying different point values ranging from 1 point for Grade A offences to 12 points for Grade D offences.

However, the current suspension of entire clubs represents a separate compliance action beyond individual player sanctions, targeting organisational responsibility for maintaining standards.

The decision to suspend both clubs jointly indicates the RFL viewed the incidents as part of a broader pattern of unacceptable behaviour requiring decisive intervention. The suspension duration, extending until June 6/7, provides approximately three weeks for both clubs to address the issues and demonstrate compliance with RFL standards before resuming activity.

What Impact Will This Suspension Have on Players, Families, and Supporters in West Yorkshire?

The suspension will directly affect hundreds of players across East Leeds and Moldgreen’s open-age, youth, and junior teams. These players face a three-week interruption to their competitive season, missing scheduled fixtures that could impact league standings, promotion prospects, and player development trajectories.

For families involved with both clubs, the suspension creates practical disruption to weekend routines. Parents and guardians who organise transport, attend matches, and support their children’s rugby league participation will have no club activities to attend until June 6/7. The RFL’s explicit exclusion of Primary Rugby League age groups means younger children can continue, but siblings in older age categories will be affected differently.

Supporters and fans of both clubs face a three-week absence of home matches, affecting community engagement and local match-day revenue. For East Leeds, whose match against Dewsbury Moor saw three red cards and angry scenes, the suspension provides time for the club to address behavioural issues among players and spectators. Similarly, Moldgreen must address the crowd trouble that led to their match abandonment against Thornhill Trojans.