Hi everyone, just gotta say I'm proud to be a rugby league fan. I am a fan of Crusaders but I must say, that I have followed league for 20 years or so. I just wish people would give us a chance to try and make a go of it. I look on here and see both positive and negative posts towards us. But please give us a chance to prove ourselves. Rugby league is growing in Wales at a good pace. In North Wales alone quite a number of teams have formed, which must only be a good thing for the game.
What are your thoughts ?

The intelligent, educated, thoughtful fans who recognise the importance of expanding the game and particularly in developing the Welsh international team will be fully behind you.

However many of the numpties on here will take every opportunity to criticise and denigrate every positive step that you take.

Untill you have a team of 17 pure Welsh players have won several trophies, crowds of 10,000 and being around for 100 years and have the cheshire part of the M6 renamed as the M62 western section you are flogging a dead horse looking for support on here.

Ignore them and get on with building RL in North wales.

Basically you are the love child of a completely ill conceived attempt by the RFL to bring a South Wales SL club through from start to finish in 3 years , once that is out of the way , I think you'll find most RL fans wish you well , occasionally they will vent their anger in your direction , citing your failings as the reason their club isn't in SL

You will have to live with this , and to be honest , I don't think you will survive long term , is it your fault ? , no it is the RFLs for attempting to force things upon people who are/were clearly not ready

Having said that all the best , I hope you do survive at whatever level you find sustainable

Well Starbug let me tell you that I got into rugby league in the 1980's watching the Welsh players at Widnes. Following on from that I've been to lots of Warrington, Saints, and Wigan games. Challenge cup finals and Grand Finals. When Celtic Crusaders were given a SL licence I was chuffed to bits. Now that they are actually in my home town, I not only follow them to every game , home and away but actually run the supporters club too. We may not have the biggest support but we have a great bunch , who support them through thick and thin. And with that behind them, they have a chance.

I'm certainly a pro expansion supporter and actually think the Crusaders club CAN work given time. A noisy bunch they are too.

The team that finished bottom last year?

Not a dig at Catalans but that's an awful example.

Why's that then ? Coz they're doing well this season. Or because RL is growing in France ?

As you live in Wrexham you're in a better place than anybody to comment. Do you believe rugby is growing in Wrexham with the move of Crusaders to there? Is there a growing interest in Wales with people converting? Or is there simply die hard fans?

Right , I'm being honest here. The support this season has dropped off a bit. Some of this is down to poor results, some down to the financial situation at the football and rugby clubs. But what I have seen in the last 12 months is rugby league really taking off in Wales. Not only South Wales. With the Scorpions, but the Valley Cougars won today, also.the academy sides in South Wales are doing well. But nearer home, we have a new North Wales Crusaders team now along with a few new local teams, which to me shows how much the game is growing in Wales.

Coming from a location steeped in rugby league heritage already made it easier for them to become an expansion 'success', admittedly.

I don't think people are particularly against Crusaders and the majority of rugby league fans would like to see them become a success. I tend to find a lot of people criticise Harlequins more (as seen on here).

Catalans are not anymore an expansion club than Widnes will be.

I always considered Wales a massive untapped potential for RL, i only they had agreed to mover over back when we split!

Sadly the Crusaders are just another example of poor, illconceived, poorly planned and badly fiananced attemp at expansion of SL.

Wish you all the best, and las I hope for London, I hope you eventually become a strong club that drives the development of RL in Wales.

The thing is , the actual results on the pitch are irrelevant , it is all down to money , is the Crusaders Club able to attract enough support , both fan and sponsorship to survive , even if you finish at or near the bottom of SL for the next 10 years , I ask this quite simply because that is the dilemma clubs outside SL face , we have to somehow generate enough interest with little to offer our fans in progression upwards

unfortunately the expansion of superleague, and the expansion of rugby league seem to have become one and the same in many peoples eyes.

rugby league is the game: this should be spread far and wide to as many people as possible, be that playing, watching etc

superleague is merely a competition: teams should be there when they are good enough.

i am also proud to be a rugby league fan.