Celtic Crusaders
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| Celtic Crusaders | |
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| Full name | Celtic Crusaders Rugby League Club |
| Emblem | St David's Cross |
| Colours | Black and gold |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Sport | Rugby league |
| League | Rugby League National League Two |
| Ground | Brewery Field, Bridgend |
| Official website | www.crusadersrfl.com |
The Celtic Crusaders are a rugby league club based in Bridgend, Wales, United Kingdom. They joined the LHF Healthplan National League Two in 2006. They play their home games at Brewery Field in Bridgend though they have taken games to other parts of South Wales.
They played against Brisbane Broncos in the Bulmers Original Cider Challenge at the Brewery Field on Thursday 15 February 2007, losing with a respectable scoreline of 6-32.
Most Crusaders players are Welsh-qualified and were recruited from the Welsh Conference sides, mainly Bridgend Blue Bulls and Aberavon Fighting Irish. They also run an academy side drawn from every club in the Welsh Conference.
The Crusaders are attracting fans of the now defunct rugby union team Celtic Warriors, who participated in the Celtic League during the 2003-2004 season, before they were disbanded by the WRU.
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[edit] Symbols
The Badge - The badge depicts the Cross of St David with the Crusaders logo emblazed thereon. The club colours are black and gold and the change strip blue and white.
The Motto - The motto comes from Lucius Accius a Roman tragic Poet. ‘Oderint dum metuant’ - ‘Let them hate, so long as they fear’ later became a famous motto of the Emperor Caligula.
[edit] History
[edit] Celtic Warriors
In the summer of 2003, the WRU voted to reduce the top tier of Welsh professional rugby union from nine clubs into five regions. The Celtic Warriors officially represented the Mid-Glamorgan Valleys area, which in practice meant that they were a combination of Pontypridd RFC and Bridgend RFC.
Financial problems at Pontypridd RFC led to the sale of their half of the Warriors to Bridgend RFC owner Leighton Samuel, which he gifted to the WRU. He then later sold his half to the WRU who in the Summer of 2004 decided to liquidate the club.
[edit] Celtic Crusaders
Leighton Samuel then created a team which he claimed was the resurrection of the old Celtic Warriors franchise, however, instead of playing rugby union they would play rugby league. The RFL had long wanted a team based in South Wales to play in their leagues and accepted his proposals.
The initial plan to use the 'Celtic Warriors' name was abandoned in favour of 'Celtic Crusaders' which had been considered by the rugby union franchise. They were to play their home games at Brewery Field and games were planned to be held at Sardis Road as well.
The Crusaders' aim was to reach Super League and to represent South Wales. Previous attempts to create rugby league franchises in non-traditional areas have met with mixed success. Gateshead Thunder and Paris Saint Germain were given automatic entry to the Super League, Paris survived only two seasons and Gateshead were forcibly merged and reincarnated as a national league two side. The philosophy behind the creation of the Crusaders was a bottom up approach to ensure that the club grew with its playing and spectator base, into a nationally recognised sporting brand.
The Crusaders' first match took place against Harlequins Academy at Brewery Field. The Crusaders used the fixture as a chance to view the fringe players in their squad and secured a 22-22 draw. [1]
Their first competitive games were in the National League Cup; Crusaders were placed in a group along with London Skolars, Hemel Stags and St Albans Centurions. Crusaders won every game convincingly and were installed as favourites to win National League two in their first year. However, the team finished a creditable third and lost out 26-27 in the Final Eliminator to Swinton Lions.
Celtic Crusaders will again compete in National League Two in 2007. The home fixture against Oldham Roughyeds on Friday 4th May 2007 will be televised live on Sky Sports, the first game ever from this level to be shown.
[edit] Current squad
| Player | Position | Previous Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Paul Ballard | Wing | Leigh Centurions |
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Chris Beasley | Second Row | St Gaudens |
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Anthony Blackwood | Centre | Halifax RLFC |
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Anthony Boothroyd | Hooker | Batley Bulldogs |
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Neil Budworth | Hooker | Harlequins RL |
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Tom Burnell | Hooker | Cardiff Demons |
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Josh Cale | Prop | Canterbury Bulldogs |
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Mark Dalle Cort | Centre | North Queensland Cowboys |
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Geraint Davies | Centre | Aberavon Fighting Irish |
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Phil Cushion | Prop | Swinton Lions |
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Hywel Davies | Prop | Bridgend Blue Bulls |
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Gareth Dean | Prop | AS Carcassonne |
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Tony Duggan | Full Back | Toowoomba Clydesdales |
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Grant Epton | Wing | Bridgend Blue Bulls |
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Dean Fitzgerald | Loose Forward | Bridgend Blue Bulls |
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Jamie I'Anson | Prop | Leeds Rhinos |
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Richard Johnson | Wing | Aberavon Fighting Irish |
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Lee Jones | Forward | Aberavon Fighting Irish |
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Owen Lewis | Second Row | Valley Cougars |
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Darren Mapp | Second Row | Cronulla Sharks |
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Terry Martin | Second Row | Canberra Raiders |
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Damien Quinn | Centre | Toowoomba Clydesdales |
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Craig Richards | Wing | Llanelli RFC |
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Rob Toshack | Centre | Manly Sea Eagles |
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Jace Van Dijk | Scrum Half | Wynnum Seagulls |
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Chris Vitalini | Second Row | Newport Titans |
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Lee Williams | Second Row | Aberavon Fighting Irish |
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Neale Wyatt | Second Row | Pia Donkeys |
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Luke Young | Stand-off | Canterbury Bulldogs |
[edit] Fixtures
- Fri 9 Feb Widnes Vikings NRC H 19:30
- Thurs 15 Feb Brisbane Broncos WCCW H 19:30
- Sat 17 Feb London Skolars NRC H 18:00
- Sun 25 Feb Leigh Centurions NRC A 15:00
- Sun 4 March London Skolars NRC A 15:00
- 10 / 11 March Third Round CC
- Sat 17 March Leigh Centurions NRC H 18:00
- Sun 25 March Widnes Vikings NRC A 15:00
- 31 Mar / 1 Apr Fourth Round PCC
- Fri 6 April London Skolars NL2 A 15:00
- Mon 9 April Blackpool Panthers NL2 H 19:30
- Sun 15 April Keighley Cougars NL2 A 15:00
- 21 / 22 April First Knockout Round NRC
- Sat 28 April Swinton Lions NL2 H 18:00
- Fri 4 May Oldham Roughyeds NL2 H 19:30
- Sun 13 May York City Knights NL2 A 15:00
- 12 / 13 May Fifth Round CC
- Sat 19 May Workington Town NL2 H 18:00
- Sat 26 May Gateshead Thunder NL2 H 18:00
- 26 / 27 May Quarter-Finals NRC
- Sun 3 June Featherstone Rovers NL2 A 15:00
- Sat 9 June Barrow Raiders NL2 H 18:00
- 9 / 10 June Quarter-Finals CC
- Sun 17 June Hunslet Hawks NL2 A 15:30
- Sun 24 June Workington Town NL2 A 15:00
- 23 / 24 June Semi-Finals NRC
- Sat 30 June York City Knights NL2 H 18:00
- Sat 7 July London Skolars NL2 H 18:00
- Sun 15 July Swinton Lions NL2 A 15:00
- Sun 15 July Final NRC
- Sun 22 July Blackpool Panthers NL2 A 15:00
- Sat 28 July Featherstone Rovers NL2 H 18:00
- 28 / 29 July Semi-Finals CC
- Sun 5 Aug Barrow Raiders NL2 A 15:00
- Sat 11 Aug Hunslet Hawks NL2 H 18:00
- Sat 18 Aug Keighley Cougars NL2 H 18:00
- Sat 25 Aug Final CC
- Sun 2 Sept Oldham Roughyeds NL2 A 15:00
- Sun 9 Sept Gateshead Thunder NL2 A 15:00
- Sat 15 Sept Play-offs Start NL2
NRC - Northern Rail Cup, NL2 = National League Two, CC = Challenge Cup, WCCW = World Club Challenge Warm-up
[edit] See also
- Celtic Warriors
- Wales national rugby league team
- Rugby League in Wales
- Rugby League Conference
- Rugby League National Leagues
[edit] External links
- Celtic Crusaders announcement
- Celtic Crusaders official website
- Website containing information about past League clubs
- Official Wales Rugby League website
- Official Wales Rugby League photographer's website
- Celtic Crusaders on youtube
| Rugby League National Leagues - National League Two |
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See also: Rugby League Championship Third Division |
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