Crusaders Rugby League enter their 5th year of rugby league, their 2nd in professional rugby league, in 2010. Additionally, this will be their first known as Crusaders Rugby League after previously being known as Celtic Crusaders, and their first year playing away from Brewery Field, Bridgend, moving to Wrexham's Racecourse Ground. They will be in contention for the Super League, in its 15th season and the 2010 Challenge Cup.
Season review Preseason The preseason saw the Crusaders make a number of changes firstly the Crusaders changed their name from Celtic Crusaders to Crusaders Rugby League then they got rid of previous coach John Dixon and was replaced by Brian Noble as well as gaining Nobles services Iestyn Harris and Jon Sharp joined as assistant coaches. The preseason also saw Wales take part in the 2009 European Cup which they ended up winning against Scotland 28–16, from the Crusaders 2010 Squad Jordan James, Ben Flower, Elliot Kear, Lewis Mills and Lloyd White were all named in the Wales squad. The Crusaders also confirmed Wrexhams Racecourse Ground as their new home ground for 2010 they originally planned to play at Newports Rodney Parade but unfortunately they couldn't which meant they had to move their South Wales base 200 miles to North Wales. The Crusaders made a number of high-profile signings during the off season with players such as former Great Britain internationals Jamie Thackray and Gareth Raynor joining the club as well as former NRL player Michael Witt returning to the 13-man code after a -year stint with the Otago rugby union club.
2010 season In April, Crusaders progressed from the fourth round of the Challenge Cup with a 58–8 win over York City Knights.
Results Super League
Table
Super League results
DateRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport+Super League results 29 January 4 Leeds Rhinos H Racecourse Ground 6–34 Raynor Witt 10,334 RLP 5 February 1 Wigan Warriors A DW Stadium 6–38 Dyer Witt 13,680 RLP 12 February 2 Salford City Reds A The Willows 36–16 Mellars (3), Raynor, Thackray, Winterstein, Witt Witt (4) 3,421 RLP 21 February 3 Hull F.C. H Racecourse Ground 18–16 Youngquest (2), Witt Witt (3) 6,794 RLP 7 March 5 Warrington Wolves A Halliwell Jones Stadium 12–46 Bryant, Withers Witt (2) 11,113 RLP 12 March 6 St Helens A The GPW Recruitment Stadium 30–37 Dyer, Mellars, Raynor, Thackray, Withers Witt (5} 8,507 RLP 19 March 7 Catalans Dragons H Racecourse Ground 14–6 Chan, Lupton Witt (3) 6,124 RLP 26 March 8 Castleford Tigers A The Jungle 16–22 Chan, Lupton Witt (3) 5,229 RLP 5 April 10 Bradford Bulls A Grattan Stadium, Odsal 16–20 Hauraki, Mellars Witt (4) 7,853 RLP 11 April 11 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats A Hearwell Stadium 20–10 Mellars, Thomas, Witt, Youngquest Witt (2) 4,671 RLP 25 April 12 Huddersfield Giants H Racecourse Ground 10–38 Dyer, Hauraki Witt 4,127 RLP 1 May 13 Bradford Bulls N Murrayfield Stadium 19–0 Witt (3), Sammut Witt (3 + FG) 26,642 RLP 16 May 14 Hull Kingston Rovers A "New" Craven Park 10–54 Raynor, Sammut Witt 7,273 RLP 22 May 15 Wigan Warriors H Racecourse Ground 26–46 Chan, Hanbury, Lupton, Witt, Youngquest Witt (3) 6,075 RLP 6 June 16 Harlequins A Twickenham Stoop 22–50 Chan, Hanbury, Lupton, Schifcofske Schifcofske (3) 2,381 RLP 13 June 17 Bradford Bulls H Racecourse Ground 44–20 Hauraki (2), Martin, Mellars, Thomas, Withers, Youngquest Schifcofske (8) 2,979 RLP 20 June 18 Leeds Rhinos A Headingley Carnegie Stadium 32–26 Hauraki (2), Mellars (2), Peek Schifcofske (6) 14,371 RLP 27 June 19 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats H Racecourse Ground 0–41 2,837 RLP 4 July 20 Warrington Wolves H Racecourse Ground 10–30 Hanbury, Youngquest Schifcofske 5,197 RLP 11 July 21 Huddersfield Giants A Galpharm Stadium 12–30 Hauraki, Sammut Schifcofske (2) 5,339 RLP 17 July 22 Catalans Dragons A Stade Gilbert Brutus 26–22 Chan, Hanbury, Hauraki, Lupton Schifcofske (5) 6,208 RLP 25 July 23 Castleford Tigers H The Gnoll 30–24 Hanbury, Hauraki, James, Martin, Sammut Schifcofske (5) 1,495 RLP 1 August 24 Salford City Reds H Racecourse Ground 60–16 Youngquest (3), Martin (2), Schifcofske (2), Hanbury, Hauraki, O'Hara, Winterstein Schifcofske (8) 2,412 RLP 6 August 9 Harlequins H Racecourse Ground 16–12 Hanbury (2), Chan Schifcofske (2) 1,122 RLP 13 August 25 Hull F.C. A KC Stadium 16–18 Dyer, Lupton Schifcofske (4) 11,762 RLP 21 August 26 St Helens A Racecourse Ground 10–36 Mellars, Winterstein Schifcofske 5,374 RLP 4 September 27 Hull Kingston Rovers H Racecourse Ground 30–24 Dyer, Hanbury, Martin, O'Hara, Sammut Schifcofske (5) 5,137 RLP
Play-offs
DateRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport+Play-off results 11 September Eliminators Huddersfield Giants A Galpharm Stadium 12–18 Hanbury Schifcofske (4) 5,869 RLP
Challenge Cup
DateRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport+Challenge Cup results 18 April 4 York City Knights A Huntington Stadium 58–8 Chan (2), Hanbury (2), White (2), Flower, Thackray, Thomas, Youngquest Witt (9) 719 RLP 9 May 5 Catalans Dragons H Racecourse Ground 34–35 Lupton, Mellars, Sammut, Schifcofske, Winterstein, Youngquest Schifcofske (3), Witt (2) 1,817 RLP
Players Squad
Transfers Gains Acquisitions Player Signed from When signedMichael Witt Otago Highlanders December 2009Nick Youngquest Gateshead Thunder December 2009Frank Winterstein Wakefield Trinity Wildcats December 2009Tony Martin Wakefield Trinity Wildcats December 2009Vincent Mellars Auckland Vulcans January 2010Tommy Lee Hull F.C. November 2009Jamie Thackray Hull F.C. January 2010Weller Hauraki Parramatta Eels January/February 2010Rhys Hanbury Wests Tigers March 2010Rocky Trimarchi Wests Tigers January 2010Gareth Thomas Cardiff Blues March 2010Clinton Schifcofske Ulster Rugby March 2010Jarrod Sammut Penrith Panthers April 2010
Losses Losses Player Signed for When leftTony Duggan Lézignan Sangliers August 2009Josh Hannay Mackay Cutters August 2009Mark Dalle Cort Northern Pride August 2009Jace Van Dijk Easts Tigers August 2009Darren Mapp Central Comets August 2009Marshall Chalk Gold Coast Titans November 2009Matty Smith St Helens R.F.C. (loan return) November 2009Ste Tyrer St Helens R.F.C. (loan return) November 2009Mark Lennon Burleigh Bears November 2009Damien Quinn Lézignan Sangliers August 2009David Tangata-Toa Unknown UnknownGeraint Davies Coventry RUFC December 2009Ashley Bateman South Wales Scorpions January 2010Chris Beasley Central Comets November 2009Aled James Unknown UnknownNeil Budworth Mackay Cutters December 2009Paul Ballard Blackpool Panthers December 2009Terry Martin Unknown Unknown
References