ENGAGE SUPER LEAGUE - Crusaders v Leeds Rhinos
Venue: Racecourse Ground Date: Friday, 29 January Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC 5 live sports extra, BBC Radio Leeds FM & online. Live on Sky Sports 1
Super League Show: 1300 GMT, Sunday, 31 January, BBC One and online
 Iestyn Harris captained Leeds to Challenge Cup glory in 1999 |
Iestyn Harris says Crusaders' Super League opener with champions Leeds on Friday night as the 'perfect' way to introduce Rugby League to North Wales. The Crusaders predict that the Racecourse curtain-raiser will be a 10,500 sell-out for the visit of Leeds. The Welsh franchise moved from South Wales in the winter after Wrexham chief Geoff Moss took over the Crusaders. "Leeds is the perfect introduction to Rugby League at Wrexham," said Crusaders assistant coach Harris. "Why wouldn't you want the challenge of Leeds to start and test yourself against the best players and best team in the business." After joining new boss Brian Noble's backroom team in the winter, Harris begins his Crusaders career against one of his former clubs. Leeds have won Super League's last three Grand Finals and bid for their third World Club Challenge at Elland Road on 28 February when they face Australian National Rugby league champions Melbourne Storm. But the Rhinos begin their title defence at the Racecourse Ground as Super League's newest club celebrate their move from Bridgend to Wrexham. And the Crusaders' controversial switch to nearer the Super League heartland has paid dividends as the club prepare to smash their record attendance by 4,000.  | 606: DEBATE |
More than 6,000 fans watched watched their 4-0 defeat by St Helens at the Brewery Field last season but the expected full house is set to be the biggest rugby league crowd, other than the 'Millennium Magic' showpieces in Cardiff for 14 years. A huge 15,385 supporters watched Wales beat Western Samoa 22-10 at the Vetch Field, Swansea when Harris himself helped inspire Wales to the 1995 World Cup finals. Now Harris hopes to guide the Crusaders to a famous win over one of the world's best league teams. "The 10,000-plus crowd will make for a great night," Harris told BBC Sport. "We're all excited about the prospect and it seems like the fans are too." Crusaders commercial director Mike Turner added: "We're delighted by the demand for tickets. "The phones haven't stopped ringing for weeks and the interest in the game in both Wrexham and across north Wales has been fantastic."
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