I had planned to write about the plight of the Toronto Wolfpack by first writing about the history of the Celtic Crusaders. Though given the length of the post already, I have decided to split the post in two. So here in Part 1 is a history of the Celtic Crusaders, who existed from 2006-2011 and share some similarities with the Toronto Wolfpack. In Part 2, I will look at the demise of the Toronto Wolfpack and maybe find a way forward for Super League. All this and more in the latest edition of the Blog of Cheese.
In March 2003, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) decided to shake up its club competition, changing from 9 club teams to 5 regional teams. One of the new clubs would be the Celtic Warriors, formed partly by Bridgend RFC and their owner Leighton Samuel. The other half of the team was owned by the WRU after problems with Pontypridd RFC. Over a year later, Leighton threatened and revoked threats to sell the team to the WRU. One attempt was considered legally binding, and Leighton sold the club. Later that year, the RFL approached Leighton about starting up a Rugby League team in Wales, based in part on the success of the Welsh clubs in the Rugby League Conference. The new team, the Celtic Crusaders, were meant to join National League Two (the Current League One) in 2005; this was then changed to 2006. Celtic was admitted to National League Two in June 2005. A month later, London and Hull FC played a Super League game at Brewery Field, the future home of Celtic.
Toowoomba Clydesdales coach John Dixon would be appointed as the club’s inaugural head coach. John headed to the UK with some Queensland Cup players, including Tony Duggan, Anthony Griffin, and Jace Van Dijk. The Crusaders would have a successful first year finishing 3rd, just missing out on an opportunity for promotion. Jace Van Dijk was named player of the year. Inaugural CEO Chris O’Callaghan resigned in June 2006. For 2007, Celtic was bolstered by players such as Neil Budworth, Mark Dalle Cart, Darren Mapp, and Terry Martin and would finish first in National League 2. Celtic would join National League One (the current Championship) in 2008. Josh Hannay and David Tangata-Toa would join for 2008. Celtic would finish second in National League One and lose in the Grand Final.
In 2005, the RFL announced they would be abandoning promotion and relegation and moving to a “licensing system” in 2009 to improve the quality of Super League. The RFL would award points based on several criteria (to read the criteria used for 2009, click here ). Nineteen teams would apply for a license. Twelve from Super League: Bradford, Castleford, Catalans, Harlequins, Huddersfield, Hull FC, Hull KR, Leeds, St Helens, Wakefield, Warrington, and Wigan. The rest came from outside Super League: Celtic, Featherstone, Halifax, Leigh, Salford, Toulouse, and Widnes. The RFL decided to make Super League a 14-team competition in 2009. Three clubs would be awarded a category A license (Hull FC, Leeds, and Warrington ), three more would be awarded a category B license (Bradford Bulls, St Helens, and Wigan Warriors), the final eight clubs would be awarded a category C license (Castleford, Celtic, Catalans, Harlequins, Hull KR, Huddersfield, Salford, and Wakefield). Licenses would be valid for three years, with an option to renew in 2011.
Celtic’s summary from the RFL was: The club’s Brewery Field home ground was considered to be “limited and old fashioned” though well maintained, and there was a commitment to improving the facilities immediately. Celtic Crusaders acknowledged the necessity to develop a new facility in the future. The RFL considered the club’s financial projections to be subjective because the enterprise is a new venture but noted that the club had shown financial stability since its formation. The RFL noted positive relationships had been developed between the club and commercial partners and that there were opportunities to be exploited through a relationship with Welsh language television channel S4C The RFL noted that independent market research had found support for Super League in South Wales but acknowledged that only reality would provide full testing. The club has scholarship and academy team development at an early stage, but the RFL noted playing infrastructure was “very good in places”. Source
For 2009. the squad was bolstered by several former NRL players, including Ryan O’Hara, Adam Peek, Lincoln Withers, and Jason Chan; Matty Smith would join on loan during the season. Celtic’s entry into Super League would be a poor one, finishing 14th with only 3 wins for the season. Problems also existed off-field. CEO Dave Thompson would stand down mid-season. It was revealed mid-season that Celtic had violated visa regulations, with six players on incorrect visas. The six players (Jace Van Dijk, Damien Quinn, Darren Mapp, Mark Dalle Cort, and Josh Hannay), had their contracts terminated. Coach John Dixon was fired at the end of the season. Despite numerous reassurances from Leighton and denials of financial troubles, Leighton would sell the club in December. In late 2009, the club dropped Celtic and was rebranded simply as the Crusaders.
Geoff Moss of Wrexham FC would take over as owner of the club for the 2010 season. Former Bradford and Wigan coach Brian Noble would be the club’s second coach. Michael Witt, Nick Youngquest, Jarrod Sammut, Weller Hauraki, and Frank Winterstein would all join the club, as would former Welsh Rugby Union international Gareth Thomas. Clinton Schifcofske would join the club mid-season after a stint in Rugby Union. 2010 would be a much more successful year for the Crusaders, making the finals after finishing eighth position. Off-field problems continued with Brian Noble leaving at the end of the year and the club being placed into administration.
Former assistant and Welsh dual international Iestyn Harris would take over as head coach for 2011. The club would start 2011 on negative four points after entering administration in 2010. The club had initially planned to apply for a license for 2012-2015, though on July 26, the club withdrew their license due to financial issues, with the club folding at the end of the 2011 season.
Much of the information about the history of the Crusaders comes from this article by freelance journalist John Davidson. He goes into more detail about the financial mismanagement of the Crusaders since 2009.
And Another Thing: I had planned to write about NRL Chairman Peter V’Landys, though given I am involved with an Intrust Super Cup side that is bidding for an NRL license, I decided to hold off on that post.
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Till next time,
Cheese