Celtic confirm Newport ground-share move
Celtic Crusaders have confirmed they will ground-share with Newport Gwent Dragons from the 2010 campaign.
The Super League club have agreed a two-year deal with an option to renew that will see both codes of rugby played at Rodney Parade.
The decision to move from their current Brewery Field home comes after they received a warning from the Rugby Football League over the standard of their facilities.
The Crusaders have also announced that they will shift their offices to Newport, though they will continue to train in Bridgend.
They will play 10 games at Rodney Parade next season, with the other three set to be taken on the road, including one at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham.
“Unfortunately, the Brewery Field clearly does not meet the requirements set by the RFL for all Super League teams,” said Crusaders chief executive Mike Turner.
“Brewery Field was constructed in a different era and for a different sport, amateur rugby union. Super League is a professional sport watched by millions around the world on digital TV.
“Next season, we’ll play at least 10 games at Rodney Parade with three on the road. We’re certainly go to Wrexham and we’ll also play a game in Bridgend and central or west Wales.”
The Crusaders have just one fixture left to play in Bridgend, against Huddersfield on September 5, but expect to return to the area once a purpose-built stadium has been built.
“Given its central location, good transport links and rugby heritage, we believe that Bridgend can develop into a major centre for rugby league in Wales,” added Turner.
“In recent months, we have held a number of discussions with Green Bank Partnership who were responsible for the construction of the innovative Leigh Sports Village that includes a magnificent new stadium for Leigh Centurions.
“They have proposed to build a stadium for Super League in an exciting regeneration project on a site already selected by the local council for a new stadium in a letter of support for our Super League application last year.”