Oz Crusaders become Welsh through residency rules

The Welsh Rugby League national side have been boosted by the news the Celtic Crusaders' long-serving Australian players are now eligible to pull on the red jersey. Four Cru players - Jace Van Dijk, Tony Duggan, Damien Quinn and Chris Beasley – have all made themselves available for Wales having been based in South Wales for three years.

Skipper Van Dijk, Duggan, Quinn and Beasley have all been with the club since 2006; playing an integral role in the Crusaders' rise through the National Leagues and into Rugby League's elite division.

The four players qualify to play for Wales RL under residency laws - and all have declared their availability for the national side, which is also coached by Crusaders boss John Dixon.

Wales' last international outing was a disastrous 74-0 thrashing against England in Doncaster, so the addition to the squad of four of the Crusaders' Australian players should provide the squad with a boost.

The news has brought criticism of the sport's residency rule, but Crusaders team manager Anthony Seibold has been quick to defend the rule and compare the situation to the union code: "There will be no prouder Welsh players then Duggan, Quinn and Van Dijk when they get to make their debuts for their adopted country.

"Rugby league is often unfairly criticised when it comes to the residency rule and the heritage rule, and it bemuses me that the press rarely run the rule over our rugby union cousins.

"Why are Italy never criticised for having six or so Argentinians in their Six Nations squad? Wales have had people like Brent Cockbain, Colin Charvis and Shane Howarth represent them at international level, and Scotland's two best players are Aussies.

"Sometimes rugby league press and supporters can be too hard on the international game."