Are you going to set up a help line for them ? Its sport hardly life or death.



FWIW I don't blame Celtic I blame the RFL for putting them in a competition they clearly ain't ready to be in. The whole process is being rushed probably in attempt to give Wales a half decent squad in 2013.

What surprises me the most though is that Celtic have done this without any threat offered to them, no relegation so I can't see why they would "cheat" to finish bottom.

If you hate it so much, why the venom at not being in it ?

that's the bloody issue!!!!!!
It doesn't matter how well we do, or how well our clubs are run, we're not allowed in!!!!!
That's why there's anger. Not necessarily at the fans of the crusaders, - well, not from me anyroad!!

My anger, outrage, disgust and all the other adjectives I'd like to post but aren't legal are laid 4 square at the feet of the RFL!

There's no wonder they are held in contempt by many. Fast becoming a joke!

Aye, and that's quite obvious in your "[iwe're alright Jack[/i" attitude. Your club is in SL and as such your self adoptive post of 'chair of the forum police' with your "[i'you should be doing this'[/i, or [i'you shouldn't be posting that' mantra [/i, coupled with and your lack of empathy and lack of insight into how fans of clubs in the championship might feel comes across loud and clear!!!!

+1

The so called most cash rich, high proflie, modern thinking sporting league in Europe (Premier League) still yes STILL has P&R!

Thank you for your kind words of wisdom Saintsfan - even though I'm not young, I am a woman, so perhaps I can be forgiven if I don't know what I'm talking about.



Anyhow, how do you feel about the fact that Leeds can now potentially put 100 points past Celtic this weekend? How will your mighty Saints feel about having the league leaders title taken away from them then?

BTW I went to Headingley last week to watch them play Cas and they were hot, hot hot!!

Yet still has a joke of a national team who take pride in beating teams like Azerbaijan (sp?)

What SL ? I dont hate SL , or it's clubs , officials or fans

I dont ' hate ' the RFL

I do think that SL is poorer for not having a different team in it every year , but i can understand why

I do think that the RFL are clueless when it comes to trying to understand what sport in general and RL in particular is all about

Celtic and the RFL speak out tonight on Boots 'n' All. www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 91,00.html

Celtic and the RFL speak out tonight on Boots 'n' All. www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 91,00.html

This is a piece from the sun today page 7

''The players applied for holiday and tourist visas-not mentioning their plans to play a professional sport''.

It also says---''after ADMITTING lying in visa applications''
Looks to me like they have pulled the wool over the UKBA.

Naughty boys.

But the issue here is, how could a club official not spot they were on tourist/student visas? (and therefore illegally employed)

Who told 6 individual players to apply for these particular visas? (or did they all just turn up one day at Celtic and say 'I play rugby' - I don't think so)

How come no one at the RFL noticed that these players were playing with the wrong visas?

I think the world of Rugby league deserves some straight answers.

But surely they didn't play proffessional sport as they were working for Dekor PLC and playing for free , as Mr Samuels suggested in his recent interview

Interesting. Although I'm not sure I would believe anything written in the Sun!

There is a statement from the RFL in print also, found [url=http://timesonline.typepad.com/rugby_league/2009/08/celtic-six-to-be-deported.html#commentson Chris Irvine's blog[/url which backs up what I thought concerning the RFL's involvement in visas:

[iThe RFL have today issued this statement: "The RFL has asked the UK Border Agency for a copy of its report into alleged discrepancies in the visa applications of six Celtic Crusaders players.
The RFL is also speaking to Celtic Crusaders about the matter and feels it would be inappropriate to pass specific comment until further details are available.
The RFL would like to point out that the awarding of visas is an issue between players and the UK Border Agency, not the RFL. For clarification, the governing body would not refuse a player’s registration if the UK Border Agency approved a player’s status and the appropriate documentation was provided." [/i

So all those silly people talking conspiracy by the RFL (thinking especially of Starbug) really don't know what they are talking about.

As for whether the club was deliberately complicit in what happened with the players, that remains to be seen as presently the investigation is still underway.

, Of course , they were working as Community dev officers in Wales , which of course is nothing to do with the RFL

They weren't over here on either tourist or student visas.

They were over here on working holidaymaker visas. The government have now tightened up on these but they were used prior to this year by sportspeople from all different sports for playing on a part-time basis. It is very likely that the visa they applied for back then was the right visa. However, from what was said on Boots'n'All this evening, the question appears to be whether they played fulltime or part-time on that visa and whether the club was in any way complicit if they played fulltime. That's aside from any 'quick fixes' they may, as a group, have been advised to employ or employed by themselves in order to obtain the visa in the first place. Either way, the investigations are retrospective because all the players were legal for this season and because of that I think a 10 year ban is overly harsh.

Do you have any idea how silly you sound?

So are you saying they were not paid to be community dev officers in Wales ?

Hey, I'm a woman too. Funny how you made an assumption there.


First off, I'm sad for the Celtic fans and concerned for the young Welsh guys that they don't have their confidence damaged by three tonkings. From a Saints POV, I'm sure some fans are probably peeved. Me, I'm not bothered. On three occasions this season the mighty Saints have led Superleague by 6 points and then we've lost our lead. If Leeds sneak it at the end then so be it. We only have ourselves to blame for not maintaining our season-long lead. The potential for a points fest probably hurts the mid table teams more, given that Castleford have yet to play the Crusaders and they are in a four way battle to remain in the playoffs. We're guaranteed at least third spot.


The only Championship club I felt sympathy towards when the licences were awarded was Widnes and that was because (a) they'd been held back once before due to RFL expansion plans, and (b) I wasn't sure whether penalising them for their past financial problems was justified. However, I no longer feel that sympathy because I, like so many other RL fans, have moved on. In fact, judging by the fans on this site, quite a lot of Widnes fans seem to have moved on. And good for them, is what I say. If they can focus on working towards a good application in a couple of years time then they stand a good chance of getting in. Someone will end up disappointed though and no doubt the bitterness will continue, whether or not the Crusaders succeed - which I sincerely hope they do! And I was as interested in them when they were in the Championship as I am now, just as I'm very interested in how Gateshead Thunder are doing (and I hope they avoid relegation, just to anger Leigh fans even more).

But they hav'nt got a 10 year ban from playing rugby, they got banned from entering this country. If they are that good they should be able to get a NRL berth in AUS. Thus enableing them to make "an honest " liveing somewhere else.

I know they can still play rugby. It's the banning from the country for 10 years that I think is overly harsh. Totally OTT actually. They can't even visit for a holiday. They paid their taxes, were very open about being here. Not like they've snuck in on a truck and exploited our free healthcare system or something.

The thing is , we do'nt know where they paid their taxes. The point is that they have been caught out allbeit maybe no fault of their own. You watch "Border patrol" from Aus. there they put them on the next flight out.That's how fair we are.

, they have a chance to abscond just the same as all the other illegal immigrants.

Like your Aussies dont you

Love em. Especially when they look like Matt Gidley.

Well no wonder you write such tripe if you're only a woman!! Go make your husbands tea love - stick to what you know, instead of coming on here preaching to everyone!!

Go back to Leigh. They're missing you.