With the greatest of respect mate, France are a joke. and I can't believe you are knocking another international side, especially after this year's European Cup.

France are certainly a joke and I have nothing but admiration for the welsh team who played well in Albi which is a great testament to Iestyn & his back-room staff - the welsh lads were almost overwhelmed by their feat ! Jake Emmett said it was the greatest moment of his life,Danny Jones was on a different planet and Lee Briers was like a little kid at xmas and he didn't even play ! Gareth Thomas led from the front and was the inspiration.
You seemed to have missed the point of the original topic - that is the Crusaders justifying a place in SL which (IMO) has absolutely nothing to do with the performance of the welsh international side - The whole SL 'crusade' seems to have been an administrative disaster and I beleive Widnes would have been a more credible SL candidate,that's all.

It's nothing at all like that. Cas and Wakey are not the only Super League clubs in England, between them they have provided one player for the English national side since 2008. Of the Welsh side that beat France, 12 of the 17 are either current or former Crusaders players, or South Wales Scorpions players. Would they be competing with France had Crusaders not existed? No, the team would still be filled with Englishmen and be at the same level as Ireland and Scotland. Instead, they have won the European Cup in consecutive years with an almost entirely home-grown squad. You said that Crusaders had done nothing for the game. That is not only short sighted in the extreme, it's also complete and utter boll0cks.

If you are going to include former players then Wakie and Cas can add a fair few more to that one you are quoting.

Since you ignored this one , I'll give you another chance




As you have a better knowledge of the team than me away you go , tell us which players that the Crusaders have ' developed ' into International players , that weren't beforehand ?

Of that team, probably Kear, Roets, Thomas, White and Dudson would not have played. The point is not just the individual players though. Others like Flower would not have been at anything like the standard they are. It's a chance for Welsh players to compete at a higher level, just as Catalans allow French players that opportunity. Crusaders being in Super League also led to the formation of Scorpions which is another chance for Welshmen to play pro RL.

Argue all you like about Crusaders not 'deserving' to be in Super League or 'deserving' a heavier points deduction or whatever you want, but there's no way you can question their positive impact on the game in Wales.

Yes they have had a positive impact on the Welsh game , but nowhere near the impact you suggest , and quite possibly just the same as if they had stayed in the Championship

Of those players you have highlighted quite possibly only Thomas has become available because of the Crusaders elevation to SL , just out of interest , how many games have the rest played last season between them

And you claimed 12 out of 17 , but only name 5 , you were no doubt including the likes of Lennon/James and others in that 12 , were you including Anthony Blackwood , by chance ?

If you try to exagerate things you lose credibilty , dont do it

The catalyst for any current Welsh success was John Dixon and the endeavours of those based in Bridgend.
John Dixon was deprived of any finance when in Super League yet he had displayed superb professionalism when he was surrounded by an unreliable owner and irate followers of the game based in the heartlands,and then his players being subjects of 'easy targeting' by the UK Border Agency.There was massive development within a small timeframe.
The conduct of those running the club in Wrexham,and the RFL,has done nothing other than bring the game into disrepute and turn many against the expansion in Wales.
Because the Welsh have done well against other nations is to be applauded,but to put out the welcome mat just because a team coached by Bobbie Goulding has been defeated defies any logic as sides from Whitehaven,Keighley and Blackpool could probably replicate the victory.
rlThe Welsh side on the day was hardly brimming with Super League playersrl
The points deduction,such as it is,serves only as a token gesture.

No, because Blackwood didn't play. The fact is that 12 are former or current Crusaders players. Lennon and James qualified previously, but the rest didn't. I don't care if you don't like Crusaders, and a positive impact on the game is probably seen as a negative by someone like you, but surely you can understand that kids playing at a higher level = improved standards of play, and a better club in a higher league with more money = better youth development. It's not a difficult concept to grasp.

Pretty sure the majority of posters hated Crusaders long before they moved to Wrexham. Please explain what the Wrexham administration and the RFL have done that has 'brought the game into disrepute'.

Why do you CONSISTANTLY wish to prove that you actually know NOTHING about the game?

I would have thought you would have learned by now!!!

Well if we're splitting hairs, Cas had two home-grown players capped for England in 2010...