Shock news as Six Crusaders deported for Visa breach
Sad goodbye
By Chris O'Brien
August 18 2009
Mike Turner may have told the Real Radio listeners that everyone at the Brewery Field expected the first season in Super League to be a struggle – but surely nobody could have predicted the backbone of the side being deported in the closing weeks of our inaugural top-flight campaign!
News broke several weeks ago that the VISAs that brought a number of the squad's players to the club were under investigation - but few supporters would have expected six players to ultimately end up getting deported!
This is a devastating blow for the club and supporters as we approach the end of a difficult baptism amongst rugby league's European elite.
The players to go are skipper Jace van Dijk, top points scorer Tony Duggan, Josh Hannay, Damien Mapp, Mark Dalle Cort and fans favourite Damien Quinn. Though Duggan has spent much of the season on the sidelines, the six are regarded as some of the bigger names at the club and are responsible for 145 of Cru's 319 Super League points this season.
An investigation from the UK Borders Agency found that the players were in the country illegally. They have been ordered to leave British shores immediately and will no longer be able to play for the Crusaders. The ruling also bans the six men from the country for a period of ten years; though they all have the right to appeal.
The Saders have released only a short, uninformative statement following the news. Chief exec Turner has said that the release of six of the club's main players will provide an "ideal opportunity to give some Welsh youngsters valuable first team action for our final three games of the season".
Van Dijk, Duggan and Quinn all joined the club in 2006 and have played a central role in Cru's superb, quick-fire rise from National League Two to the Super League. To see three club legends leave in such circumstances is shattering for the team's loyal support.
The club had announced several weeks ago that Duggan and Quinn were to be released at the end of the season - and the latter had already signed a contract to join French Elite League club Lezignan next year. Duggan is injured, but many fans were planning to travel to Castleford on the final day of the season merely to bid farewell to Quinn. That chance has now gone.
Mapp, Dalle Cort and Hannay all arrived at the start of the 2007 campaign with the Australian trio all regulars in John Dixon's chosen XIII. The six thus all played a huge role in the club's rise through the leagues.
It is currently unclear whether the club will suffer any sanction following this news.
This news has broken at the worst possible time for club officials ahead of Saturday evening's big on-the-road fixture against the Leeds Rhinos at Newport's Rodney Parade. The fans, however, must be there in numbers, support the young players who will get a run out and give the team as much vocal backing as possible. Oh, and let them know what you think about the name/badge changes too!
To Jace, Tony, Josh, Damien, Mark and Damien - thank you for your service. It's gutting to see six of the club's best players leave under such circumstances; but you all leave with our best wishes for the future.
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For sure, we're in financial trouble and will have real troubles strengthening next season's squad with so many faces to replace and so many more coming in. It's a mess and I'm worried.
Add to that the name and badge change and you've got a club with no stability, playing away from its settled home on the back of woeful press coverage. We've been slammed in the Guardian this morning, for example.
BBC Wales have also speculated that the players were not informed by the UK Borders Agency or anybody else, read about their plight on an online media report first and intend to turn up for training anyway. That may not be true but it all adds to the complete shambles.
Anyone have any idea where we go from here?
With the spine of our team missing, we can expect a royal stuffing against Leeds.
That won't help season ticket sales if we have a club to support next season. The whole point of this showcase Newport game, for me, was to show off RL to Wales' third city ahead of the permanent move. The cynic in me suggests that the club always intended to move to Newport this season and thats why this particular fixture was moved. We can expect disillusionment on the terraces from those that care; and a load of Leeds fans probably laughing at us.
Depressing business.