Yeah I thought something like that or Celtic Dragons (though South Wales Celtic sounds better)

Somebody needs to define what the bigger picture is first though.

Is it having a succesful team ? Or is it developing home grown players ?

Obviously in time you'd want both to be happening, but at the outset you aren't going to get that - it'd be one or the other.

You can have a succesful team in CC1 right away but it'd be packed with overseas players to do so.

Or you can have an average team that is full of developing young local players.

I'd hope that the people behind this application are leaning towards the latter option.

If the final descion rests with the CC1 clubs then it's a chance for them to make some money from the extra game which people have said the championship clubs need.

Hopefully the whole thing isn't to hastely put together. Welsh rugby league needs a presence in S.Wales so the development work doesn't go to waste.

I thought Celtic Dragons at one point, but we already have a Dragons in the pro ranks (I don't like the idea of duplicant nicknames if it can be easily avoided!).

Better that than my other idea though: South Wales Whales

Seriously though, South Wales gives the club a target area that people can identify with (something they never had previously, and something that means they won't be moved to North Wales!) as well as keeping some heritage in the Celtic name.

I'd be very disappointed if someone comes in and calls it something non-specific and random like Cymru Pandas or something! But knowing RL sometimes...

The name is a difficult one, the Celtic name may be a put off those people who apparently hold Leighton Samuel in low regard, believing the new and the previous club are in someway connected. A brand new approach is the key IMO, perhaps aligning their moniker with the historical industries in South Wales.

Although it would save on buying a new bobble hat.

i think you surmise the whole situation really well.

does the rfl offer any assistance to emerging clubs? especially considering this one would be bang in the middle of a key expansion area.

Gosh yes! Well Done Barnacle Bill.. they could keep the Celtic bit and crayon out the Crusaders part.

A fair reflection indeed on the whole set up

Good luck to them!

I hope the new club in South Wales does well, prospers and develops into a SL club that doesn’t require the presence of a team full of Aussies. I’m sure they can do it, but it will take time and a great deal of effort. This is a chance to put things right.

I’m not sure what this means for the Crusaders though. It probably means they’re finished.

You as well

I agree with the idea of the new club being called Celtic "something", or why not just "Celtic"?
Hopefully they will be linked to the Crusders' reserves and tap into the WRFL's development.
Now, if everything works out for the Crusaders and they end up back in Bridgend in a year's time, the second team could well drop out and resume duty in the academy leagues.
If they can form a team to keep the interest going in south wales, then great.

You do realise that that is the equivalent of telling all the players 21 and over in the semi-pro side to go play RU and they're not welcome in RL, since the reserves went to U20s?

Hopefully they have nothing to do with Crusaders apart from a player loan scheme, as the less they have to do with them, the more chance of success