Celtic didn't employ illegal immigrants. At the time they were doing just what 13 other clubs were doing: employing players under the working holidaymaker visa with the modification brought about by one club which had successfully challenged earlier limitations imposed by UKBA (or whatever it was back then). That 13 other clubs are not presently under investigation is because all the Aussies employed by them have already returned home, bar one player, according to the RL press today.

So you can blather on about the Crusaders all you like. Had Fax been employing one of its Aussies under the same visa and had that Aussie still been playing for Fax, he too would have been on a plane home.

I don't think you have listened and/or read about this in its entirety, my little stalker.

One club challenged the ruling around 2004 and won dispensation from the UKBA (or whatever it was called back then). It was on the basis of that ruling that the 13 clubs referred to are relevant as they recruited under the working holidaymaker visa as it stood post 2004 and up to 2008 when the rules changed again. Those recruits from those 13 clubs have subsequently returned home, bar one player other than the six at the Crusaders.

No they did not , those players were already in this country before that time , the UKBA allowed them to complete their agreed contracts with the clubs [ if not they could potentially have sued the clubs ]

As I said and surely as a Saints fan you will remember the W1g4n argument when the salary cap was introduced that they had to pay cotrcated players past that date or they could be sued for beaking those contracts

Gateshead won dispensation for amatuer players only

Are you saying that these 6 players including one with 150 NRL appearances and recent SOO matches played over here for nothing for 2 seasons ?

Nooo. I didn't say anything of the kind. The players' histories was irrelevant, my little stalker.

So you admit you were wrong and did not read what was quoted by the RFL

They are very good at deflecting blame and ' spin ' snnouncements

I admit to no such thing.

You being a woman that doesn't surprise me

22 being going to FC since 1991, not like it makes a difference or magically changes my opinion.




I don't care about the fans outside of SL, all I care about is SL and having the best to maki it a competition to be proud of.



Considering most of the teams would have had difficulty a) getting there and b) not having the facilities to get there I don't see why it should surprise them so much. The door isn't shut, all the RFL are saying is if you want to be in the top league then you need to be able to cope. Which most championship clubs wouldn't, can they draw the big crowd or have the finances to support such a venture ?



The RFL are preventing clubs from running before the can walk, they are doing it to protect your clubs. Not to banish you or belittle you but make your club better. How many clubs have being able to go up to the top league and stay there ? It took Huddersfield a few attempts and Salford always going up and down.



I have said in an earlier post I didn't think the crusaders was the right choice but who else should it have gone to ? Widnes who had just come out of administration ? Halifax with a half built stadium ? Featherstone with only a few thousand fans ? Barrow with the ground that can't hold a capacity for a SL game ?

Its only wrong because your on the outside looking in, one day you will realise the RFL made the right choice. Instead of getting clubs coming up going bust losing load of money why not come up with a scheme were they can make money and steadily build up to a SL level ? I feel its people like you who hold the game back from going forward.

Bless you.

As I suspected, your age shows one amazing lack of insight.

I refer to the post Starbug made. It's simpler and as I'm at work it and I can't be @rsed to make any lenthy protracted reply just yet, his comment will suffice for now!! Pertinent as it is!

Well then, if age is an issue, I am 44yrs old.
FWIW...I am of the opinion that the RFL have managed the whole franchise thing terribly.......BUT......the fact that some so called Rugby League fans seem to get pleasure from the problems faced by Celtic Crusaders makes me fear for the future of the game.
I fear for the leigh fans....deluded that they could make it work (see 2005) or the fax fans, (see 2003) or (and I like this lot) Widnes ( see 2007....bankrupt or bust?).....
Simply put, to point the finger at a 22yr old because of his age is at least patronising.....I mean ......I am Irish.....so what would I know?
Lazy posting.....undermines your very point and makes you look like you are running out of things to say.

sorry roth im 37 and i agree with him in the main. age has nothing to do with it really.
Once we settle down we will make good progress (and you know some of the reasons why that has a good choice to happen) and i think in 10 years time the rfl decisons will be seen as correct even if not handled in the best way.

yes it was a lazy posting - I was at work and was indeed struggling to get a point over within a few minutes. I still believe pmarrows post shows an amazing lack of immaturity, a crass lack of empathy for anything beyond sl and is consistant with someone younger. I accept thats not always the case with someone of his age but I said to my young un (25), I'll bet this one is younger than you!! Not that that should ever be an issue of course.

I believe the RFL were wrong to include Celtic when and how they did, and have evidenced why I thibnk that.
I WOULD like to see a welsh team in SL!!!!!!!
I would also have liked to have seen them acheve it on the field of play (with appropriately registered players), rather than by a political shift.
I would like to see their position in SL (or any other SL club - I don't think Celtic will fuinish bottom next year) challenged by a successful Championship club - regardless of who that is - who if they haven't the infra-structure in place can opt out of that 'promotion should they wish.

As it stands at the mo I could be a multi-millionaire keen to sponsor Leigh in their fantastic new stadium and they still won't be allowed up. It's a sporting apartheid and until it changes I won't ever give up the fight for the right of equality for all clubs.

I know Grendel and Jannerboyuk know my slant, but just to reinforce my stance:- I have no problem with the Crusaders as a club. I have with the RFL!!!!! I have no problems with the majority of fans - just the one's with an amazing "I care not for thee Jack, I'm alright" attitude, which does annoy me as much as some of the anti-crusaders crap I've read on here!