Crusaders Announce New Signings

By Zippy
January 11 2007

At a busy day at the Brewery Field yesterday the Celtic Crusaders stated their intentions for the 2007 season with several high profile signings and a new sponsor - Redrow Homes. For details read on.

From - http://www.crusadersrfl.com/

Terry Martin – Second Row – Age 26 – signed from Canberra Raiders
Terry is an experienced second-row forward from the National Rugby League (NRL) in Australia. He represented Australian Schoolboys in 1998 before signing for Canberra Raiders in 2000. He also made appearances for the highly regarded New South Wales Residents' side during his six-year spell in the Australian capital.

Darren Mapp – Second Row – Age 26 – signed from Cronulla Sharks
Born in Albury, Queensland, Mapp started his rugby league career with his local side, Moss Vale Dragons before joining Brisbane Broncos as a 19-year old. Following a two-year spell with Canberra Raiders in 2001-2002, he rejoined the Broncos in 2003 and spent a year with Cronulla Sharks in 2006.

Neil Budworth – Hooker – Age 24 – signed from Harlequins RL
Hailing from Wigan, Budworth started his career with local amateur club Blackbrook and gained extensive experience with Wigan at reserve grade level prior to joining Super League side London Broncos (now known as Harlequins RL) for the 2003 season. Voted the Broncos’ "Young Player of the Year" in 2003 and "Players’ Player of the Year" in 2004 when he was an ever-present with the club.

Craig Richards – Winger - Age 28 – signed from Llanelli RU
Son of the famous Wales and British Lions RU international, David Richards, Craig is the Crusaders’ only rugby union acquisition of the winter, signing from Llanelli. He has become a very successful Wales Rugby Union international in the sevens version of the sport. With over 60 caps to his name, Richards played for Wales in the 2002 Commonwealth Games while with Bridgend. He has also played for Neath, Coventry and Newport and spent time in Australia with Sydney club, Gordon Highlanders RFC.

Anthony Blackwood – Centre – Age 24 - signed from Halifax
A Welsh international, Anthony made his international debut in 2005 against Scotland at the Brewery Field and played in all three Wales matches that year, scoring two tries against Ireland in Dublin. Starting his career with Leigh, he captained their under 21s to Grand Final victory in 2004, winning man of the match in the process. He joined Halifax in November 2004 scoring 26 tries in 49 appearances for the National League One side.

Mark Dalle Cort – Centre - Age 24 - signed from North Queensland Cowboys
Mark grew up in Ayr, Queensland, started his rugby league career with state amateur clubs Burdekin and Burleigh and was a Queensland Juniors representative. He played reserve grade for NRL club St George Illawarra and led them to the Grand Final at that level in 2002 before moving back to Queensland and signing for the 2005 Grand Finalists, North Queensland Cowboys. He represented Queensland Residents in 2006.

Rob Toshack – Centre - Age 27 – signed from Manly Sea-Eagles
Born in Armadale, New South Wales, Rob has represented the New South Wales Country representative side in the annual City v Country match held in Sydney. Formerly with Balmain Tigers in the New South Wales Premier League, Rob’s Manly appearances have also been restricted to Premier League where he has been playing alongside Welsh international Mark Lennon.

Josh Cale – Prop – Age 24 - signed from Canterbury Bulldogs (Sydney)
As a junior with Sydney Roosters, Josh helped his side to the Australian Youth Championship (known as Jersey Flegg). Signing for the famous Canterbury Bulldogs side, he played at youth and reserve-grade level (New South Wales Premier League) alongside current Crusaders star Luke Young. He won the club’s reserve grade player of the year in 2005.

Paul Ballard – Winger – Age 22 – signed from Leigh Centurions
Paul Ballard is one of two brothers currently active within the game. He is mainly seen as a winger or fullback and came through the Academy ranks at Wigan before joining Widnes in 2005. Unfortunately a shoulder injury required surgery and Ballard played just four games in Super League before joining Leigh. He will face his old team-mates twice in the first couple of months of the new season.

Andy Boothroyd – Hooker – Age 22 - signed from Batley Bulldogs
Andy’s first professional club was National League One side Halifax and played his first game for the club against St Helens reserves scoring a try. He made his first team debut in 2004 and last season moved to Batley Bulldogs and was involved in the shock result of the play-offs where they knocked out Leigh Centurions – a club who he will face again this year with the Crusaders in the Northern Rail Cup.

Jamie I’Anson – Prop - Age 19 - signed from Leeds Rhinos
After a successful stint in the Leeds Rhinos Academy, I’Anson signed for Featherstone Rovers on loan in July 2006 and played in both of the dramatic encounters against Celtic Crusaders last season. He helped to lead Rovers to the play-offs where they fell in the first round to Swinton Lions.



Existing players re-signed for 2007 and how they performed last season

Chris Beasley – Second Row
Chris was signed from St Gaudens in June 2006 following the culmination of the French season. Very influential in the forwards, he made nine appearances and scored one try on the road to leading the Crusaders to the play-offs.

Phil Cushion – Prop
Phil had an excellent first season for the Crusaders after making the move from Swinton Lions. He made his debut in the Crusaders’ first ever match, a 50-10 win over Hemel Stags and went on to make 26 appearances throughout 2006.

Geraint Davies – Centre
One of Wales Rugby League’s most promising youngsters, Geraint won the club’s Young Player of the Year award last season after scoring six tries in 29 appearances. A Welsh speaker, Geraint has often been the face and voice of the Crusaders on S4C or BBC Radio Cymru.

Hywel Davies – Prop
Another player who made the move from local rugby league in Wales, signing from Bridgend Blue Bulls after helping them to three successive Welsh titles. He made his debut for Wales last season against Scotland at the Brewery Field.

Gareth Dean – Prop
Gareth joined the club mid-season in 2006 after finishing a year in France with Elite League side Carcassonne. He started his rugby league career with Cardiff Demons before making moves to Wigan Warriors, London Broncos and Workington Town. Now with eight Welsh caps to his name, he made his international debut against England in 2001.

Tony Duggan – Full Back
Highly rated as one of the best players in National League Two, Tony joined the club from Queensland Cup side Toowoomba Clydesdales. Scorer of the first ever try for Celtic Crusaders, he went on to run over a further 36 in his first season in Wales making him the country’s top try scorer in 2006 at every level in rugby league. He won five trophies in last year’s Crusaders Player of the Year ceremony including the top award.

Grant Epton – Winger
Another acquisition from Welsh champions, Bridgend Blue Bulls, Grant’s appearances were limited last season due to injury. However he managed to score five tries in 12 games and did well to create the winning try for Tony Duggan in the last minute of the regular season against Featherstone Rovers last September.

Dean Fitzgerald – Loose Forward
The third of the Bridgend Blue Bulls contingent, Dean made his Crusaders debut in their second ever match, a 40-6 win over London Skolars. A Welsh speaker, Dean went on to score six tries in 21 appearances last season which was good enough to earn him a contract for 2007.

Richard Johnson – Winger
Another player whose appearances were cut short by injury in 2006. He played just 12 times last season, but his performances were good enough for him to be picked for Wales in the World Cup qualifier against Scotland in October where, while winning his fourth cap, he scored one try and created another in his first game in over three months.

Lee Jones – Forward
Lee is one of the Crusaders’ academy players and is another up and coming Welshman. Formerly with Aberavon Fighting Irish, Lee made just five appearances last season but it was enough to earn him an academy contract for 2007. He has made a good start to training in 2007 and has initially been named as the Crusaders’ 25th squad member.

Damien Quinn – Centre
One of the stars of 2006, Damien scored 18 tries and 85 goals in an outstanding season. He was the Crusaders highest points scorer last year and also played in the most number of games, 30 out of a possible 33. Australian-born, Damien also played for Toowoomba Clydesdales in the Queensland Cup before arriving in Wales.

Jace Van Dijk – Scrum Half
Last year’s official National League Two Player of the Year, Jace had an outstanding season. The records show that scored nine tries and 52 goals in just 26 appearances, but as all Crusaders fans know, he did far more than that as he excelled as a playmaker and try-creator supreme which earned him the division’s top award. Jace hails from Australia and was signed from Queensland Cup side Wynnum Seagulls.

Neale Wyatt – Second Row
Neale was another mid-season signing joining the Crusaders in June after leading French club Pia to the 2006 Elite League and Cup double. Neil’s years with Pia also included an impressive performance in a Challenge Cup match against Leeds at Headingley. He scored two tries in eight appearances for the Crusaders in 2006.

Luke Young – Stand-off
A former player with the famous Sydney Bulldogs side, Luke made his Crusaders debut in their very first match against Hemel Stags. He had an excellent year, scoring 14 tries and 14 goals and like Damien Quinn, made 30 appearances out of a possible 33.


Major Players Transferred Out

Aled James (Glamorgan Wanderers RU)
Anthony Seibold (retired)
Carl de Chenu (retired)
Dave Simm (released)
Dean Scully (released)
Gareth Price (Widnes Vikings)
Karl Hocking (Maesteg RU)
Lenny Woodard (Glamorgan Wanderers RU)
Matt Hill (Redcliffe Dolphins)
Matt Jobson (Toulouse Olympique)
Michael Hook (Redruth RU)
Michael Ryan (back to Australia – taking a year off playing for family reasons)
Paul Morgan (Bridgend Ravens RU)
Ryan Barton (Canberra Raiders)
Shawn Van Rensburg (released)