Celtic Crusaders Squad

[ali]

The Crusaders are pleased to announce the following provisional training squad for 2006. Drawn heavily from the successful Bridgend Blue Bulls side, the initial squad contains four players recently capped at Full International by Wales in their highly successful European Nations Championship Campaign. In addition, Great Britain BARLA U’18 stars Daniel Phillips, Lee Williams, and Oliver Hughes are added in the Academy alongside St Helens trialist Gareth Moore. The Celtic tradition is further upheld by Carl De Chenu (Ex Sheffield Eagles and Ireland) and David Sims (Bristol University and Scotland.

Chief Executive Chris O’Callaghan said ‘Coach John Dixon has, with the assistance of Kevin Ellis, assembled a strong training squad. Under new fitness and conditioning coach Anthony Seibold (ex Hull KR, London Broncos) pre season training promises to be a very rigorous campaign.

Over the next few month the squad will develop and grow, with the addition of further Welsh Conference and overseas signings. The structure of the Club is still fluent and the final squad has yet to take shape. However, to misquote the League of Gentleman this is a Welsh based club for Welsh players.’

Squad:

David Owen Bridgend Blue Bulls
Paul Morgan Bridgend Blue Bulls, Wales RL (ENC)
Grant Epton Bridgend Blue Bulls, Wales A
Lenny Woodard Bridgend Blue Bulls, Wales RL (ENC)
Karl Hockin Bridgend Blue Bulls, Wales RL (ENC)
Carl Ellis Bridgend Blue Bulls, Wales A
Lloyd O’Connor Bridgend Blue Bulls, Wales A
Marcus Sainsbury Bridgend Blue Bulls, Wales A
Hywel Davies Bridgend Blue Bulls

Carl De Chenu Sheffield Eagles, Ireland RL (ENC)
Mark Burke Aberavon Fighting Irish, Wales A
Scott O’Kelly Aberavon Fighting Irish, Wales A
Dean Scully Aberavon Fighting Irish, Wales A
Lee Jones Aberavon Fighting Irish
Phil Cushion Ex Swinton, Aberavon Fighting Irish
David Sim Bristol Univ, Scotland RL (ENC)
Neil Davies Aberavon Fighting Irish, Wales RL (ENC)
Geraint Davies Aberavon Fighting Irish, Wales Students
Gareth Lewis Aberavon Fighting Irish

Academy:

Daniel Phillips Aberavon Fighting Irish, GB Amateur U’18’s
Oliver Hughes Cardiff Demons, GB Amateur U’18’s
Lee Williams Aberavon Fighting Irish, GB Amateur U’18’s
Gareth Moore Aberavon Fighting Irish

Plus former Brisbane Broncs Michael Ryan and Derrick Watkins, and Andre Boon who played for Cardiff Demons last season and made a big impact since his arrival from New Zealand Division One rugby union side Northland Taniwha in April. Despite only making a handful of appearances, he has impressed in every game he's played. He has a Welsh wife so doesn't qualify as an "import".

Looking good.

 

[milton]

I reakon in 10 or so years the english superleague should be split into two divisions and become the european superleague, now with all the proffessional tams comming in from other countries until there is enough money and teams from each country to start there own because there will be teams from england, a couple from France and Wales and Ireland are also interested and it is also a future goal of Russia and any other serious Rugby League EURO nations

 

[Big Bunny]

I reakon in 10 or so years the english superleague should be split into two divisions and become the european superleague, now with all the proffessional tams comming in from other countries until there is enough money and teams from each country to start there own because there will be teams from england, a couple from France and Wales and Ireland are also interested and it is also a future goal of Russia and any other serious Rugby League EURO nations

It's already the European Superleague. The English teams in the competition have no divine right to be in the competition, they are only there by default. The original vision for Superleague was to at the very least have a South Wales and 2 French based clubs participating. The pinnacle of English domestic rugby league is National League One, not Superleague, even if that is how it appears on the surface.

 

[girvie]

They also have Matt Jobson from the Wests Tigers.

 

[magpie_man]

I reakon in 10 or so years the english superleague should be split into two divisions and become the european superleague, now with all the proffessional tams comming in from other countries until there is enough money and teams from each country to start there own because there will be teams from england, a couple from France and Wales and Ireland are also interested and it is also a future goal of Russia and any other serious Rugby League EURO nations

yeah i reckon that's a good idea,
maybe, eventually, there could be 2 irish teams, 2 scottish teams, 3 welsh teams and 5 english teams in the western conference.
and 7 english teams, 3 french teams and 2 russian teams in the eastern conference.
the potential in europe is enormous.

 

[disco1]

The Crusaders are being talked up nicely in South Wales, plenty of interest. It is nice to see young real Welsh lads making the grade. Give them a few years to gain top level experience and they could be a very capable team. By then the youngsters from the Pencoed area who have been brought up playing league will be pushing for spaces and when you consider these youngesters have beaten the top english league schools and district teams the future is very bright.

 

[Weasels Ripped My Flesh]

Guys like Ryan and Jobson should tear up NL2 with their experiance. Let's hope to see the Crusaders (If Fev Don't) make it up in 2006.

 

[BatiFan]

Ex Canberra and Manly lower grade players Jace van Djik (halfback) and Damein Quinn (Centre) will also add further to the squad after Christmas. I am pretty sure that van Djik would qualify for Holland so might not be a quota player and Anthony Seibold qualifies for Germany so he could play as well as a non quota player. A very impressive first squad beckons for the Crusaders indeed.

 

[bender]

Ex Canberra and Manly lower grade players Jace van Djik (halfback) and Damein Quinn (Centre) will also add further to the squad after Christmas. I am pretty sure that van Djik would qualify for Holland so might not be a quota player and Anthony Seibold qualifies for Germany so he could play as well as a non quota player. A very impressive first squad beckons for the Crusaders indeed.

That looks to be an absolutely awesome side for NL2 standards. Will they lose a game?

Those imports are as good as any in NL1 or half of the Superleague teams for that matter. Hopefully a winning NL2 side will attract some interest and following in Wales.

 

[Sun_Down]

Michael Ryan should tear up NL2

 

[JasonE]

I've seen quite a bit of NL 2 and i think the standard is suprisingly good, while someone like Michael Ryan should go really well, it will be much harder than people think. Teams like Dewsbury and Featherstone Rovers play in NL 2 and will have strong squads next year.

 

[Jackal Dog]

The Crusaders are being talked up nicely in South Wales, plenty of interest. It is nice to see young real Welsh lads making the grade. Give them a few years to gain top level experience and they could be a very capable team. By then the youngsters from the Pencoed area who have been brought up playing league will be pushing for spaces and when you consider these youngesters have beaten the top english league schools and district teams the future is very bright.

Hey disco1, is it true that Gareth Thomas current Welsh RU captain(and a very good player to boot!) grew up playing RL in Bridgend?

Oh and what happened to his front teeth?

 

[disco1]

Hey disco1, is it true that Gareth Thomas current Welsh RU captain(and a very good player to boot!) grew up playing RL in Bridgend?

Oh and what happened to his front teeth?

QUOTE]

No, he is a union boyo but I'm sure would have made a great RL player, big and hard as nails, great leadership qualities etc etc

As for his teeth, probs too much fighting down Bridgend town centre on a Saturday night. I wouldn't want to bump in to him or knock his pint over. He always puts his body on the line with big tackles or line breaks.

I did hear a story that when he was captain of the Lions he turned up to a press conference in his pants!!!

 

[screeny]

Hey disco1, is it true that Gareth Thomas current Welsh RU captain(and a very good player to boot!) grew up playing RL in Bridgend?

Oh and what happened to his front teeth?

QUOTE]

No, he is a union boyo but I'm sure would have made a great RL player, big and hard as nails, great leadership qualities etc etc

As for his teeth, probs too much fighting down Bridgend town centre on a Saturday night. I wouldn't want to bump in to him or knock his pint over. He always puts his body on the line with big tackles or line breaks.

I did hear a story that when he was captain of the Lions he turned up to a press conference in his pants!!!

Ah, those union japes. My sides are splitting.......

 

[disco1]

And he also told Tony Blair to F off over the phone - fact!

 

[bartman]

Confirmed now that ex-Widnes and Wales player Adam Hughes is heading to Leigh and not Crusaders for 2006.

http://sport.independent.co.uk/rugby_league/article333196.ece (link goes "premium" after a few days)

The Welsh international centre, Adam Hughes, has rejected overtures from the new Welsh club, the Celtic Crusaders, to join Leigh.

 

[HelperMonkey]

Thats a real shame for the Crusaders...still I think they have a good enough team to really make a mark in National League 2 this year.