Rugby League: Crusaders’ l’Anson gunning for old club

Apr 17 2008 by Simon Kendal-Williams, South Wales Echo

CELTIC Crusaders forward Jamie I’Anson is licking his lips at the prospect of a return to Leeds Rhinos tomorrow (8pm) in the fourth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

Leeds-born I’Anson joined the Yorkshire-based club as a schoolboy and made the starting line-up in a testimonial match against Oldham in January 2005, aged just 17.

A regular in the Crusaders’ line-up since joining last year, making 29 appearances and scoring two tries, 20-year-old I’Anson is looking to put his experience of playing at the home of the world club and super league champions to good use.

“I may not have made any Super League appearances at Headingley,” he said, “but I did play in a few curtain-raisers in front of 20,000 people. So I know what it’s like to play in front of a crowd there.

“Headingley is the best stadium in the country for atmosphere and Leeds have a great set of fans. I’m really looking forward to going back there.”

I’Anson made several appearances in the Leeds Academy side before signing for Featherstone Rovers on loan in July 2006 and playing twice against the Crusaders in the Welsh club’s inaugural season.

After signing for the Crusaders in 2007, the powerful prop immediately became a fans’ favourite, winning the club’s Young Player of the Year award.

His side are slowly coming to terms with life in National League One and have applied for Super League status next season.

Such is the gulf between the Rhinos and the Welsh side that many see the match as a damage limitation exercise, but I’Anson is having none of it.

He said: “People are writing us off before this game, but you never know – there are shocks every week in rugby league.

“We just have to concentrate on own performance, play at our best and things will hopefully then go well on the day.”

Meanwhile, the Crusaders have announced season-ticket holders will gain free admission to the Northern Rail Cup game against holders Widnes Vikings at the Brewery Field, Bridgend, on Saturday, May 24 (5.30pm).

The club have taken the decision after their final Northern Rail Cup group match against Doncaster was postponed, and was not replayed as both sides had already qualified for the knockout stages.

Crusaders’ operations manager Gerald McCarthy said: “We wanted to do this for the fans as they didn’t get to see what probably would have been a classic match back in March. With a few former Widnes players in our side and former player Jonathan Davies as our club president, it’s sure to be a great game.”

Admission prices for non-season ticket holders are £10 adults, £5 students and senior citizens and £1 for under-16s.

The Crusaders’ next home match is against Featherstone Rovers on Friday, May 2, kick-off 7.30pm.