Crusaders have confirmed they will be moving from south Wales to the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham.
Welsh Super League club confirm switch to Wrexham
Crusaders have confirmed they will be moving from south Wales to the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham.
The club, formerly named Celtic Crusaders, have been taken over by Wrexham Football Club and will stage 11 of their 13 home matches at the Racecourse Ground, including their opening game of the season against defending champions Leeds Rhinos in January.
"North Wales has been starved of major sporting success for too many years and we are confident we can achieve that success in Super League with Crusaders RL," said Wrexham chief executive Paul Retout.
"Bringing Super League to Wrexham is akin to bringing Premiership football to Wales. Crusaders RL really puts Wrexham on the map. It's great news for the town, for Wales and for rugby league."
Presence
The other two home games will take place in south Wales to allow the Crusaders to maintain a Super League presence in the region and they will create links with new Welsh Championship One club South Wales, who are based at Neath.
"Without Wrexham FC, there would not have been a Crusaders RL playing in Super League in 2010," added Retout.
"Super League would have been lost to Wales."
Crusaders owner Leighton Samuel transferred the club to the Wrexham consortium when plans to move from Bridgend to Newport were axed due to lack of new investment.
"Every option was explored to preserve the Crusaders and we're grateful for Wrexham Village Ltd for coming in," said Crusaders chief executive Mike Turner.
"They were the only realistic option to ensure the survival of the club and without them the Crusaders wouldn't have been around to start the 2010 season."
Crusaders have only confirmed one signing for 2010, Hull hooker Tommy Lee, but say they plan more announcements in the coming weeks.
Presence
Rugby Football League chief executive Nigel Wood added: "It is great news that not only has the future of Crusaders RL been saved but that rugby league has been able to reinforce its presence in Wales.
"For the first time rugby league has a whole of Wales presence. This is a very exciting opportunity and I am sure that Geoff Moss, Paul Retout and his fellow directors at Wrexham will provide the vision, the leadership and the resources required to make Crusaders RL succeed in Wales.
"The RFL Clubs' support unit has been working closely with the Crusaders RL in recent months and will continue to make its skills and expertise available over what is a very important period in the club's evolution."
