Bans 'hit Crusaders like a brick'

A senior member of Celtic Crusaders management has admitted the impending deportation of six Australian players "has hit the club like a brick".

High performance boss Anthony Seibold also says debutants who face Leeds on Saturday "are not up to Super League".

Injuries and the impending deportations means three youngsters are lined up to play at Rodney Parade.

Seibold says Elliot Kear, 20, Gil Dudson, 19, and Ashley Bateman, 19, "are not quite ready".

BBC Sport Wales revealed on Tuesday the United Kingdom Border Agency has ordered the six players to leave the country after an investigation revealed they used invalid visas in past years.

The six who must leave the UK by Monday, 7 September and who are banned from playing in the meantime are Jace van Dijk, Tony Duggan, Damien Quinn, Darren Mapp, Mark Dalle Cort and Josh Hannay.

Seilbold said: "The future of the Crusaders is very bright. Obviously we're going through some tough times on and off the field right now.

"The news from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) this week has hit the club like a brick.

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If this was a "traditional" rl club acting in such a manner they would be booted out of the sl

JB1973

"Those six players have been terrific servants for the Celtic Crusaders for the past three to four years.

"Tony Duggan, Jace Van Dijk and Damien Quinn were here from the first training session and were teaching Welsh rugby union players how to play the ball, so it's been an emotional few days for us all."

In addition to the banned six, Luke Dyer, Lincoln Withers, Adam Peek, Peter Lupton and Aled James are injured.

That has led to Kear, Dudson and Bateman a chance other youngsters might also be offered as the season draws to a close.

Seibold added: "They have been training hard and are some of the best youngsters that we have on our books, but only in year one or year two of playing rugby league.

"I think that the next three games are going to be very difficult.

"You only have to look at Leeds last week who put 76 points on Castleford Tigers who are in a play-off position.

"We know that it's going to be a massive challenge for us with our long injury list as well as the six boys who have to go back to Australia."

Seibold appealed for fans to get behind the club against the reigning league champions amid the fall-out from the deportation orders UKBA ruled the six players were in the country on invalid visas.

"We need your support more than ever this Saturday," Seibold said.

The team that you will see will not be representative of the side that we have fielded this season

Anthony Seibold

"We could have up to three players making their debuts against Leeds so we need as many Welsh fans as we can get to cheer them on.

"We know that there will be a number of new fans coming to Rodney Parade on Saturday.

"The team that you will see will not be representative of the side that we have fielded this season, that beat Wigan and Bradford, and nor will it be a representative of what we will field in Super League in 2010."

He went on: "There are some players who are now having the chance from our reserves and academy and we have to make sure that they learn over the next three weeks and try and make it a positive environment for them.

"But they'll be part of a stronger squad next year. We have faced a number of challenges with our recruitment and it's taken it's time.

"But we've had advice and have been pointed in the right direction by a number of people with regards to recruitment for 2010 and beyond and we're confident that we'll be able to announce the first of our new signings soon.

"We hope those signings can help improve our performances for 2010, but we also know the guys from 2009 have given the best that they can."

The result of the UKBA investigation and injuries mean up to seven born-and-bred Welshmen could face the Rhinos.

Dudson's debut will come 10 months after he made his Wales debut as a substitute in the 74-0 defeat to England at Doncaster.