# 2010 Crusaders Rugby League season

Crusaders Rugby League enter their 5th year of rugby league, their 2nd in professional rugby league, in 2010. Additionally, this will be their first known as Crusaders Rugby League after previously being known as Celtic Crusaders, and their first year playing away from Brewery Field, Bridgend, moving to Wrexham's Racecourse Ground. They will be in contention for the Super League, in its 15th season and the 2010 Challenge Cup.

## Season review
### Preseason

The preseason saw the Crusaders make a number of changes firstly the Crusaders changed their name from Celtic Crusaders to Crusaders Rugby League then they got rid of previous coach John Dixon and was replaced by Brian Noble as well as gaining Nobles services Iestyn Harris and Jon Sharp joined as assistant coaches. The preseason also saw Wales take part in the 2009 European Cup which they ended up winning against Scotland 28–16, from the Crusaders 2010 Squad Jordan James, Ben Flower, Elliot Kear, Lewis Mills and Lloyd White were all named in the Wales squad. The Crusaders also confirmed Wrexhams Racecourse Ground as their new home ground for 2010 they originally planned to play at Newports Rodney Parade but unfortunately they couldn't which meant they had to move their South Wales base 200 miles to North Wales. The Crusaders made a number of high-profile signings during the off season with players such as former Great Britain internationals Jamie Thackray and Gareth Raynor joining the club as well as former NRL player Michael Witt returning to the 13-man code after a 1+1⁄2-year stint with the Otago rugby union club.

### 2010 season

In April, Crusaders progressed from the fourth round of the Challenge Cup with a 58–8 win over York City Knights.

## Results
### Super League
#### Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Wigan Warriors (L, C) | 27 | 22 | 0 | 5 | 922 | 411 | +511 | 44 | Play-offs |
| 2 | St Helens | 27 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 946 | 547 | +399 | 40 | Play-offs |
| 3 | Warrington Wolves | 27 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 885 | 488 | +397 | 40 | Play-offs |
| 4 | Leeds Rhinos | 27 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 725 | 561 | +164 | 35 | Play-offs |
| 5 | Huddersfield Giants | 27 | 16 | 1 | 10 | 758 | 439 | +319 | 33 | Play-offs |
| 6 | Hull F.C. | 27 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 569 | 584 | −15 | 32 | Play-offs |
| 7 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 27 | 14 | 1 | 12 | 653 | 632 | +21 | 29 | Play-offs |
| 8 | Celtic Crusaders | 27 | 12 | 0 | 15 | 547 | 732 | −185 | 24 | Play-offs |
| 9 | Castleford Tigers | 27 | 11 | 0 | 16 | 648 | 766 | −118 | 22 | |
| 10 | Bradford Bulls | 27 | 9 | 1 | 17 | 528 | 728 | −200 | 19 | |
| 11 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 27 | 9 | 0 | 18 | 539 | 741 | −202 | 18 | |
| 12 | Salford City Reds | 27 | 8 | 0 | 19 | 448 | 857 | −409 | 16 | |
| 13 | Harlequins | 27 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 494 | 838 | −344 | 14 | |
| 14 | Catalans Dragons | 27 | 6 | 0 | 21 | 409 | 747 | −338 | 12 | |

#### Super League results

W Win D Draw L Loss
Super League results :
| Date | Round | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Report |

#### Play-offs

Play-off results :
| Date | Round | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Report |

### Challenge Cup

W Win L Loss
Challenge Cup results :
| Date | Round | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Report |

## Players
### Transfers
#### Gains

Acquisitions :
| Player | Signed from | When signed |
| Michael Witt | Otago Highlanders | December 2009 |
| Nick Youngquest | Gateshead Thunder | December 2009 |
| Frank Winterstein | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | December 2009 |
| Tony Martin | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | December 2009 |
| Vincent Mellars | Auckland Vulcans | January 2010 |
| Tommy Lee | Hull F.C. | November 2009 |
| Jamie Thackray | Hull F.C. | January 2010 |
| Weller Hauraki | Parramatta Eels | January/February 2010 |
| Rhys Hanbury | Wests Tigers | March 2010 |
| Rocky Trimarchi | Wests Tigers | January 2010 |
| Gareth Thomas | Cardiff Blues | March 2010 |
| Clinton Schifcofske | Ulster Rugby | March 2010 |
| Jarrod Sammut | Penrith Panthers | April 2010 |

#### Losses

Losses :
| Player | Signed for | When left |
| Tony Duggan | Lézignan Sangliers | August 2009 |
| Josh Hannay | Mackay Cutters | August 2009 |
| Mark Dalle Cort | Northern Pride | August 2009 |
| Jace Van Dijk | Easts Tigers | August 2009 |
| Darren Mapp | Central Comets | August 2009 |
| Marshall Chalk | Gold Coast Titans | November 2009 |
| Matty Smith | St Helens R.F.C. (loan return) | November 2009 |
| Ste Tyrer | St Helens R.F.C. (loan return) | November 2009 |
| Mark Lennon | Burleigh Bears | November 2009 |
| Damien Quinn | Lézignan Sangliers | August 2009 |
| David Tangata-Toa | Unknown | Unknown |
| Geraint Davies | Coventry RUFC | December 2009 |
| Ashley Bateman | South Wales Scorpions | January 2010 |
| Chris Beasley | Central Comets | November 2009 |
| Aled James | Unknown | Unknown |
| Neil Budworth | Mackay Cutters | December 2009 |
| Paul Ballard | Blackpool Panthers | December 2009 |
| Terry Martin | Unknown | Unknown |