Crusaders on Parade after traumatic week.

Byline: Simon Kendal-Williams

AFTER all the bad news to come out of the Celtic Crusaders camp, the week has at least ended on a positive note.

On the day of their first Super League fixture at Rodney Parade against Leeds Rhinos (6pm), the club have announced a deal with hosts Newport Gwent Dragons to play home games in the city for the next two seasons.

Since their inception in 2006, the Crusaders have played at Bridgend's Brewery Field and plans have been submitted for a new 15,000-seater stadium in the town.

But until the end of 2011 at least - when the Crusaders' three-year Super League licence expires - their home will be 30 miles along the M4.

Mike Turner, Crusaders chief executive, said: "Unfortunately the Brewery Field clearly does not meet the requirements set by the RFL for all Super League teams.

"It was constructed in a different era and for a different sport, amateur rugby union.

"We spoke to a number of clubs - but Rodney Parade filled the criteria and ticked every box.

"There will be an option to renew the deal, but it all depends on where we are on new stadia in 2012."

The club continues to pick up the pieces after a traumatic few days in which six first-team players had their contracts terminated.

The UK Border Agency found discrepancies in the visa applications of captain Jace van Dijk, Tony Duggan, Damien Quinn, Mark Dalle Cort, Josh Hannay and Darren Mapp, meaning all six will be deported to Australia, from where they could launch an appeal.

Add to that the fact that another five players are missing through injury, and the visit of the mighty Rhinos could not have come at a worse time.

"It's terrible for the lads and it's bad for us," said Turner. "I haven't seen the report as the UK Border Agency have taken the paperwork, so we can't say what the discrepancies are.

"But the stupid thing is, for this year everything was fine with the visas - even after the last-minute rule change in Australia which saw a few players left Down Under at the start of the season.

"The problems stem back to 2006 and 2007."

In the meantime, the RFL are carrying out their own enquiries, and until they are completed are refusing to comment.

All this means that a clutch of untried youth players will be thrust into the Super League cauldron for the final three games of the season.

At least former Newport Titans' duo Lloyd White and Lewis Mills will be in familiar surroundings at Rodney Parade.

Both 20-year-olds are products of the Crusaders' development system, stand-off White making his Super League bow at St Helens in June and Mills, a utility forward, coming on against Wakefield last week.

Three more raw recruits are named in coach John Dixon's 18-man squad.

Prop Gil Dudson and wing Ashley Bateman, both aged 19, are included, as is 20-year-old utility back Elliot Kear.

"Some of these young players are not quite ready for Super League yet," admitted head of performance Anthony Seibold.

"And we know that these last three games are going to be difficult.

"The team tonight will not be representative of the side we will field in Super League in 2010.

"But it's all about the future, about giving these players experience and the chance to learn in a positive environment over the next three weeks."

Crusaders fans still await news of any signings for Super League XIV, and, indeed, the fate of several out-of-contract players.

It has been suggested that Dixon is to step into a development role next year, but Turner said: "There's a lot of talk, and everyone is under scrutiny right now, which is understandable.

"But John Dixon remains in charge of recruitment and is working on things right now."

Crusaders (from): A Blackwood, R O'Hara, M Bryant, M Chalk, M Smith, B Flower, J James, M Lennon, J Chan, D Tangata Toa, C Beasley, S Tyrer, N Budworth, G Davies, L White, G Dudson, L Mills, E Kear, A Bateman.

Leeds (from): B Webb, S Donald, L Smith, K Senior, R Hall, D McGuire, R Burrow, K Leuluai, J Peacock, J Jones-Buchanan, A Lauitiiti, K Sinfield, M Diskin, R Bailey, L Burgess, S Worrall, K Watkins, D Manning, M Ratu.

CAPTION(S):

Ex-Newport Titan Lloyd White will be in familiar surroundings at Rodney Parade