Visa woes cause Crusaders crisis

Celtic Crusaders are preparing to kick off their inaugural season in Super League without a third of their squad who remain stranded in Australia awaiting clearance.

The Bridgend club, who help launch engage Super League XIV at defending champions Leeds on February 6, are preparing for that match without eight key members of their squad who are all waiting for visas.

They include last year's captain Jace van Dijk, leading tryscorer Tony Duggan and last year's National League One player of the year Damien Quinn, who are victims of a tightening of regulations by the British consulate in Canberra.

Several other Super League clubs have also been affected by the new rules but none as badly as the Crusaders, whose coach John Dixon admits he may have to field a severely weakened team against the Rhinos.

Dixon, whose side have a friendly against Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop on Thursday week, said he had not given up hope of getting his overseas stars back in time but was preparing to play without them.

"I've got no control over it whatsoever," he said. "It is one of those things. We are governed by UK policy and Australian policy.

"When we applied for the visas we were very hopeful they would be here for the Quins game and more than hopeful for Leeds.

"We will turn up and play on February 6. We're utilising what we've got.

"We've got 17 guys working exceptionally hard and we have plans to throw some of our kids into the squad. If we had to play tomorrow, that's the team we've got. Anything on top of that is a bonus.

"You could have eight players missing through injury during the season. You've just got to deal with it."