KIERAN TAYLOR has agreed to extend his stay with the North Wales Crusaders just in time for Sunday’s crucial home clash with Hunslet.

Taylor has put pen to paper on a new deal that will see him remain at the Colwyn Bay-based club until the end of next season.

Since arriving at the club in 2023, Taylor has established himself as a regular under head coach Carl Forster and he has become a stand-out Cru player over the course of the last two seasons.

After signing the new deal, Taylor told the club’s website: “I’ve really enjoyed my time at Crusaders so far.

“The club and fans have really made me feel at home, and it’s certainly a club which is going in the right direction.

“It’s something which I want to continue to be a part of which was why it was a pleasure to sign on again for next season.”

Forster added: “Kieran has been outstanding since he arrived with us, and tying him down amongst interest from elsewhere and Championship clubs is a signal of intent from the club.

“It’s something we’ve probably struggled to do in previous years where we’ve seen our better players cherry picked, and so I’m really pleased to see Kieran stay at the club.

“He’s the first of many both current and new faces to be announced, and I’m sure our fans will be excited to see the squad which we’re putting together for next year.”

Meanwhile, Forster has issued a rallying call ahead of what is likely to be a pivotal weekend.

Crusaders are battling to secure a spot in the end-of-season League One play-offs and they currently occupy sixth position.

This Sunday, they host third-placed Hunslet and Forster added: “New or old, whether you’ve been to see a few games, never missed a game, or even this would be your first, we need you at Stadiwm CSM this Sunday.

“North Wales is an area extremely passionate about sport, with immense pride in its teams, and we need that right behind us on Sunday to push the lads on in what to me is a must win game when it comes to keeping our play-off hopes alive.”

Forster’s side were defeated 32-6 at league leaders Oldham last weekend, but Forster has seen positives from that game which he’s hoping to build on this Sunday.

“For me, we sort of have to take last weekend as a stand alone game,” he said.

“We’ve gone to an Oldham side packed with ex-Super League players, who will have spent probably four times what we have this year, and we’d struggled to get a side together due to the amount of injuries we had.

“So to have matched the best side in the league for large parts of that game, I actually take an immense amount of pride from.

“Don’t get me wrong, a defeat is never good, and of course we’ll be looking at what went wrong, and where we can improve going into this weekend, but I think it’s about focusing on ourselves, getting some of the new faces like Kenny Baker into training this week so they can learn our plays, and making sure we get back on track against Hunslet.

“Games are running out, we’re in a position to challenge to make sure we stay in the top six, but we’re there to be shot at as well.”

The top two clash on Sunday with leaders Oldham at home to Keighley Cougars.

Rochdale Hornets and Midlands Hurricanes, the teams in fourth and fifth place, clash at Spotland while Workington Town make the long trip to Cornwall.