This thread can become irritating, quickly, thanks to you, Code13. I've got no problem with your personal vendetta against Widnes, but I'm sure some Vikings will take your bait.

Notice almost every mention of Widnes in this thread has come from you, or Roofs. Not Widnes fans. Leave the Widnes club out of this, as they've got twice the amount of respect and compassion for the good of this sport (including Celtic Crusaders) than most ever will.

For the record, I think it's a sad state of affairs in Wales. I'm sympathetic to their loyal band of fans, (particularly that halfwit CruCruCrusaders - who must plug thousands into following them) though I'm not all that surprised. The club is out of its depth on every level at the time being, I just hope they can recover within two years for the good of the Welsh game.

Oh – and while everybody (OK, one or two usual suspects, and a couple of other on the Crusaders board) is having fun gloating, saying "I told you so" and "this confirms everything I've always said about Crusaders" etc, etc, …


… take a moment to ask yourself how many other clubs have had visa problems with Australian signings this year, and then ask yourself what this new attitude by UKBA could potentially mean for any club, in any league?

Exactly! Its not fair to bring up Widnes everytime something happens down in Wales. Not too suprised, hope they sort it.

But why does it not affect other sports like Union and Football?

I was thinking miore along the lines of a sporting declaration once they'd topped 100.

Good opportunity for the Loiners to rest a few players for a week, before the business end of the season

I completely agree. As much as I disagreed with their original inclusion it would be a disaster for the game if they failed. Which of course was one of the main reasons I was against it in the first place.

I must admit I've been shocked at their inadequacy this year though. I expected poor crowds which would hamper their long term progress but there has been more twists than a bad Hollywood movie.

Bird is getting in because he's only ever here for a few days. Technically he could still be turned away but there is more latitude for short stays.

Possibly the problem here is that the Celtic players came in on visas that only authorised a short stay as these are easier to get. It's just taken several months for the numpties at the UKBA to notice that they never went home.

As someone else has said, nobody is going to come out of this looking particularly clever in all likelihood.

Many fewer Australians coming into play football. A few will be coming in to play Union, but their first season since the new policy came in is only just about to start - they might have problems, though they've had longer to adjust and might have been forewarned with what has happened to League, if they happen to have clicked the link below the one they intended on sportinglife, one day.

I still believe that there is the potential for a club to flourish in South Wales, but I'm starting to have doubts about [ithis[/i South Wales club.

They'll just have to muddle through the rest of the seasons, hopefully learn their lessons and start with a blank slate in 2010.

Or seemingly any other rugby league club?!

this just highlights the folly of building a team full of antipodeans to compete in the EUROPEAN super league. well done to the RFL for making a complete bollox of everything yet again ala PSG!!!!!!!!

Hull FC. Bradford. Leeds. All had visa problems with potential signings this season, iirc.

Problems yes. Players here with illegal documents and subsequently deported no.

"Intelligence-led" means "someone tipped us off". So where's your bets ? Someone close to the WRU, or someone closer to the M62 ?

I suspect I'd be putting my money on the latter.

I wondered how long it would take before some numpty came up with this one.