At the moment stands at 10. I was very surprised to find that teams such as Hull KR that have way over 100 years on our fledgling club in a rugby league heartland have as many as 9 of their own.

I find that a lot more shocking than a team preparing for their 3rd year in Super League and only their 6th year in rugby league altogether from a non traditional rugby league area.

Can we just reply with 'look at Rovers' every time somebody has a go at our Aussie Army from now on?

Wrexham is 30 miles from the RL "heartlands" of St. Helens, Warrington, Widnes. That's around half the distance from say Hull to Leeds. Hard to see why Crusaders really need to be allowed 14 overseas players.

Have you under a stone perhaps?

100 year history?

We came into existence in 2007, and you 2009, that's only a 2 year advantage because didn't you know there is nothing below Super League...?

lol, a whole country to yourselves to get players from and you still rely on Aussies!

Because, given the size of the UK talent pool, a 14-team elite league is a stupid idea?

Talking to your fellow Rovers fans?

All SL have too many overseas plauyers whether it comes uner Quotan Kolpak, Grandmother, Grandfather, naturalised Brit, or whatever the loophole might be.

It is a bit of a red herring to state that a 100 year history should mean that a club should automatically be able to call on a team full of locals. No club in Super League can do this. In Hull KR’s case, before entering SL in 2007, they had just spent 20 years in the lower leagues, where few clubs can afford to run a full academy set up. Only with a wealthy backer willing to put his own money in to youth development can this happen. Given that there is little protection, for lower league clubs against poaching from SL clubs, it is very unlikely that the majority of lower league clubs would spend what little money they have on academies.

Thus, Hull KR’s youth development did not start until 2007. They do have far too many overseas players, but I’m sure that will change. East Hull has been producing many RL players for the greater game outside of Super League, and has done so for many years. There is a sport called RL outside of Super League.

Let’s hope that Wrexham can one day match East Hull in that respect, as well as producing some top class international players. With the Scorpions, and with some considerable effort in setting up a thriving amateur scene in North Wales, this could happen.

Well said Pepe.

Just out of interest can some one list the Crusaders overseas players.
I can think of: Tony Martin, Witt, Sammut, O'Hara, Withers, Bryant.

Are Chan, Winterstein, Peek and Schifcofske still at crusaders.

Cheers (sorry for any spelling mistakes)

This.
Thread closed.

You are quite correct in stating that HKR have too many overseas players , I doubt you will find many Rovers fans disagreeing with you , and in time they will start to produce more of their own , however they dont ' beat the drum ' about how they have a team of ' local ' players

If we didn't read in the press and on these boards how the Crusaders are responsible for Wales's upsurge Internationally then less people would criticise , because up to now it is the Celtic Crusaders and the club in Neath that have ' converted ' union lads to RL [ notice I said ' converted ' , not produced which is what Heartland clubs have to do ] , not the ' Crusaders ' , ie the Wrexham club , they up to now have done nothing other than fullfill a season of fixtures and then go bust [ yes I know that isn't the actual term , but in reality it is ]

Hopefully they will now be able to consolidate and build for the future , but it in no way gives you licence to have a go at any other club

It was just a thread to remind those that point the finger to look in the mirror once in a while.

Not a dig in particular at KR but a prime example was their club so they were used off the top of my head.

If nothing else, and in danger of coming across a bit boy george, I'm looking forward to seeing Big Willie in Super League if nothing else. Stuart Fielden is having cold sweats and waking up 10 times a night just thinking about it.

As is Big Willie every time he thinks of Jamie Peacock!