Bradford chairman Peter Hood says the club will not seek points redemption from the Celtic Crusaders despite the Welsh team's visa scandal. Crusaders beat the Bulls 30-24 at Odsal in May, one of only three wins they have picked up so far this season. But six of their players are to be deported after immigration officials ruled they breached visa regulations. Asked if Bradford would now appeal against the result, Hood said: "I don't want to go down that route." The UK Border Agency (UKBA) told BBC Sport Wales on Tuesday that visas used to bring the half-a-dozen Australians to the Welsh club were invalid. The investigation found discrepancies in the visa applications of the six players in seasons prior to 2009. Captain Jace van Dijk, top try-scorer Tony Duggan, Damien Quinn, Darren Mapp, Mark Dalle Cort, Josh Hannay have all been told they can no longer play for the Crusaders and must leave the country by Monday 7 September and are banned from the UK for 10 years.  | How were these apparently ineligible players allowed to ply their trade in the United Kingdom? Bradford Bulls chairman Peter Hood |
Quinn, Hannay, Dalle Cort and van Dijk all starred in Crusaders' first Super League victory against the Bulls. But Hood insists his club will not be asking for the points to be awarded to Bradford even though it has emerged that the Crusaders fielded "ineligible" players. "What happened on that day was a bunch of Celtic Crusaders players came to us and executed an excellent game plan on the day," he said. "That result is in the record books - and that is for someone else to address with the backdrop of what has happened. "I don't want to go down that route." The Bridgend-based club have since beaten Wigan Warriors 22-16 and Salford City Reds 25-12 at the Brewery Field. Hood admits he was "shocked" at the Crusaders apparent visa misdemeanour and added: "The concern in my mind is how does it happen. "How were these apparently ineligible players allowed to ply their trade in the United Kingdom? By what process did that happen? "At Bradford, and I'm sure at all other clubs, we are required to provide the governing body, the Rugby Football League, a copy of the individuals' visa and his passport and a whole load of other documentation - and presumably that would have happened in this case as well. "One would have imagined that processes, checks and procedures would have been gone through to satisfy the governing body that every player who is playing his trade over here is legitimate. "There are clearly questions to be answered by the Rugby Football League so we must wait to hear what they have got to say." | 606: DEBATE |
The Rugby Football League insist they will make no comment until they have spoken to all parties. An RFL statement read: "The RFL has asked the UK Border Agency for a copy of its report into alleged discrepancies in the visa applications of six Celtic Crusaders players. "The RFL is also speaking to Celtic Crusaders about the matter and feels it would be inappropriate to pass specific comment until further details are available. "The RFL would like to point out that the awarding of visas is an issue between players and the UK Border Agency, not the RFL. "For clarification, the governing body would not refuse a player's registration if the UK Border Agency approved a player's status and the appropriate documentation was provided." The Celtic Crusaders were awarded a three-year Super League last year but the Welsh club have endured a tough first season in rugby's top-flight. Owner Leighton Samuel had to publicly quash fears that the Crusaders were suffering from a cash crisis while on the field they are bottom of the table. Hood concluded: "The rugby league community is fully committed to expanding the game out from our heartland and I'm sure that will continue. "But this is a serious matter than needs to be addressed quickly and hopefully the game and the Crusaders can move on in a positive way."
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