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Crusaders confirm Wrexham switch
13:45, Dec 15 2009
Crusaders have confirmed their move from south Wales to the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham.
The old Celtic Crusaders club have been taken over by Wrexham Football Club and will play 11 of their 13 home matches at the Racecourse Ground, including the opening fixture against defending champions Leeds on January 28.
"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."
Crusaders' other two home games will be staged in south Wales to enable the club to maintain a Super League presence in the region and they will forge links with newly-formed 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."
Plans to move the club from Bridgend to Newport were scrapped when new investment failed to materialise and owner Leighton Samuel agreed to cut his losses by transferring the club to the Wrexham consortium.
Crusaders chief executive Mike Turner said: "Every option was explored to preserve the Crusaders and we're grateful for Wrexham Village Ltd for coming in.
"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' only confirmed signing for 2010 is Hull hooker Tommy Lee, but the club say they plan more announcements in the coming weeks.
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