Welsh forward wants to play league and team up with Gareth Thomas at Crusaders. timesonline.typepad.com/rugby_league/

Welsh forward wants to play league and team up with Gareth Thomas at Crusaders. timesonline.typepad.com/rugby_league/

The interview in full.
rlhttps://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/may/20/andy-powell-wales-golf-buggyrl

Always stood out amongst less-than-dynamic 6 Nations forwards. Would be a great signing for the Crusaders - or any other SL team, for that matter. If he signed for, I dunno - Hull KR for example, he'd be non-fed though, would he?

I havn't got a clue who he is? Obviously he's no good now, but with training, could he make it in league?

He's the drink driving in a golf buggy fella and one of the more dynamic and powerful Union forwards, playing back row. I think he would make the transition well.

I'd love to see Crusaders make this signing.

Second rower at league? Would he pull in the crowds in Wrexham?

More barnstorming prop, IMO. If he can do to would-be tacklers in SL, what he does to them in RU he'd be a big hit. As the article says, he looks like a League player already.

quoteSecond rower at league? Would he pull in the crowds in Wrexham?'"

With him being a yawnion forward could he be fit enough to play RL and also take the hits.

To be honest I would prefer to pay the money for a proven rugby league prop that would show a guarneteed return on the outlay. The only reason to sign a Welsh rugby union player would be to get another Welsh player in the squad and more than that to raise the profile of the club. Other than Gareth Thomas I think only Gavin Henson could have been a higher profile signing and he has peldged his future to union.

As I say it is a big money gamble, as he does carry the ball very loosely and would need lots of work, and in my opinion money that could be used better elsewhere to secure the services of a specialist top class prop from already within rugby league. People seem to say 'get them on board' but these kind of players need time to develop. Given the choice of a seasoned pro who would be an instant benefit to the club and hit the ground running or an expensive gamble which would take a while to even aclimatise to the game then I would go for the experienced rugby league player every time, regardless of nationality.

He has had one decent game at international level, since then he has looked sub-standard and far from dynamic. Most back rowers in the 6 nations would be more dynamic than Powell even a few of the front rowers also. He is a strong ball carrrier so probably could do well at RL as long as he does not have to think too much.

I'm with crucru on this one. Alfie was a publicity signing and it worked. If Powell wants to come to rl let him but why the hell should we pay top rate for an unproven player who carries the ball like a loaf if bread (love any given Sunday!)

I'd rather we
put the money in to a solid but not star quality forward and pumped the remainder of the cash into the academy/schools programs

He couldn't be signed on a massive contrat, due to the salary cap.

I don't know why anyone could be against this signing, if a guy like Ben Flower can switch codes and do well then just think what a top class Union player could do (I know Flower is a lot younger than Powell), I'm not saying he'd be a guaranteed success but we should never underestimate the potential of players in the other code (even if the sport itself is terrible).

Also, from a publicity POV it would be massive for the game. Alright, Powell isn't a particularly big name, but he's somebody that people know and he's in the prime of his career. When Alfie switched, it was dismissed by some due to his age, and he's also been someone who has been known to do things a bit out of the ordinary (coming out for example). Most of the people I've spoken to about this have dismissed it as paper talk and said there's 'no chance of someone like Powell going'. If he came then it would really send out the message that RL is a viable option in Wales.

No it sends the message that rl in Wales Is only viable by poaching union guys! Put the money into the academy and lets produce boots upwards rl players.

There is money being put in the academy anyway though. It's not a choice between investing in youth and signing Andy Powell, and his example might encourage more kids to get involved.

I wouldn't be against Powell coming, at least he would be a Welsh player coming instead of another overseas player. However i would rather see them give a break to some of the young Welsh players at the scorpions who are looknig to break into the big time. Those guys are the future, while Powell might only have a few years squeezed out.