GO AND GET GAVIN

THE surefire way for new Celtic Crusaders coach Brian Noble to put bums on seats at Newport next season is to sign two or three Welsh RU internationals.

Although Noble’s priority is to assemble a competitive squad that can get the Crusaders off the foot of the table – he only has 10 contracted players at the moment – the capture of a Gavin Henson or a Shane Williams would set the place buzzing and make good commercial sense. 

Noble is trying to persuade Paul Sculthorpe to come out of retirement and, although the signing of the former St Helens skipper would be a major coup, it wouldn’t have the same impact on the fans  as seeing Henson or Williams don a Crusaders jersey. 

Lions centre Henson is a big fan of Super League and has watched several games at Bridgend, so a decent contract, boosted by third party sponsorship, might just tempt him. Henson and wing flier Williams would have little trouble adapting to League as Jonathan Davies and John Devereux proved when they went north before Union became professional. 

The presence of former dual code international Iestyn Harris on Noble’s coaching staff could prove useful in attracting Union players. 

For now, Noble and his No.2 Jon Sharp are looking at off-contract Super League players from Huddersfield, Hull and Wigan to boost their squad – with a couple of NRL stars also on their shopping list . 

Noble’s appointment has demonstrated the Crusaders mean business after their squad was found sadly wanting in the inaugural season and fi nished well adrift at the foot of the table. 

The only way is up and there should be no shortage of news coming out of Newport between now and the new Super League season in February.

» MORE 'RUGBY LEAGUE' HERE...

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