North Wales Crusaders moving south

[fearnowt]

I've really had enough now.

See the season out to say my goodbyes, then I'm done with RL.

Sorry there's no link, I'm posting this on my phone. Click on the website on my signature block below and look at the latest news.

 

 

[OriginalMrC]

Gutting for long term fans in the North but a better move for Crusaders overall? I'm not sure as RL has failed to make inroads in the South and there's been several failed teams. 

[Tommygilf]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tommygilf]

We should be able to have more than one club in Wales at this level, and we shouldn't be allowing a North Wales club to move to nearly as far South in Wales as possible without any sort of process or fan consultation.

If the NWC owners wanted a club in Bridgend, why wouldn't they just start one up there?

Edited August 14 by Tommygilf

[Henson Park Old Firm]

Does this mean the Ospreys are leaving the URC?

[Spidey]

8 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

We should be able to have more than one club in Wales at this level, and we shouldn't be allowing a North Wales club to move to nearly as far South in Wales as possible without any sort of process or fan consultation.

If the NWC owners wanted a club in Bridgend, why wouldn't they just start one up there?

To be fair they’re just returning home aren’t they?

[Click]

Just now, Spidey said:

To be fair they’re just returning home aren’t they?

I mean, they're called North Wales Crusaders 

But I guess not for much longer

[Tommygilf]

5 minutes ago, Spidey said:

To be fair they’re just returning home aren’t they?

In a roundabout way I guess - though they have been North Wales for more time than they ever were in Bridgend.

[Coggo]

Good move.

Maybe they'll have some Welsh players now (!)

[Spidey]

Just now, Tommygilf said:

In a roundabout way I guess - though they have been North Wales for more time than they ever were in Bridgend.

It does seem bonkers to me. The original talk was to base a reserve team in south wales which I thought made sense to have a pathway. But to up sticks and leave is an insult to the fans that have kept them going. This season

[Tommygilf]

1 minute ago, Spidey said:

It does seem bonkers to me. The original talk was to base a reserve team in south wales which I thought made sense to have a pathway. But to up sticks and leave is an insult to the fans that have kept them going. This season

Indeed. 

Like I said if they wanted to set up a team in Bridgend, they could have just done that. I doubt there is any commercial benefit to moving the Crusaders to do so.

[Tommygilf]

4 minutes ago, Coggo said:

Good move.

Maybe they'll have some Welsh players now (!)

Are you just contrarian for the sake of it?

[gingerjon]

1 minute ago, Spidey said:

It does seem bonkers to me. The original talk was to base a reserve team in south wales which I thought made sense to have a pathway. But to up sticks and leave is an insult to the fans that have kept them going. This season

Having already annoyed fans across south Wales by being nomadic and constantly changing down there, before disappearing gogwards, they now come back and ... what's changed?

Is there even a proper club in existence here?

[Coggo]

Just now, Tommygilf said:

Are you just contrarian for the sake of it?

North Wales were just bussing in players from Widnes or whatever.

Better to have a club in a place where people actually play rugby.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

Just seen about this myself. Gotta really feel for the fans that have stuck with them over the years. 

[Expatknight]

You couldn’t get much further away from where they are now and still be in Wales.

I wonder what the thinking is behind the move, and they must have a credible business plan for the RFL to sanction it, if they have………oh wait a minute, it’s the RFL we are talking about

[Damien]

I hate the rebrand to Wales Crusaders. Wales should have more than one club. It all feels like such a backward step. I understand all of the reasons and the probably necessity but can see it leading to other issues down the line too.

[Damien]

Are we also now going to get complaints about travel costs etc from the other clubs? There is a heck of difference in costs and ease and as history shows I wouldn't be surprised if that comes next.

[Whippet13]

Probably makes sense from a local player pool perspective, but very cruel on their fans and I envision some teams complaining bitterly about the travel costs to Bridgend, particularly if League 1 returns in some format next year.

[gingerjon]

This is, objectively, stupid:

[nadera78]

Absolute nonsense from the owners.

[Welshleaguelover]

35 minutes ago, Henson Park Old Firm said:

Does this mean the Ospreys are leaving the URC?

Ospreys are moving into St Helen's in Swansea.

I do feel they're more likely to be getting the chop than Llanelli... but we'll see.

[Damien]

6 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

This is, objectively, stupid:

Absurd and not going to work at all. You cant build a club and sustain interest like that.

[fighting irish]

What kind of crowds were they getting up there? 

 

[Gerrumonside ref]

The owners going to fall between two stools with this and will alienate everyone I feel.