Gay named in Scorpions squad

Monday 8th February 2010

Championship One newcomers South Wales Scorpions have included an Australia-born Welshman in their 23-man squad.

Andrew Gay, whose father was born in Cardiff, was player of the year with New South Wales club Toukley Hawks in 2008 and takes up the club's solitary overseas quota spot.

Almost half the squad have come through the junior and reserve ranks at the Crusaders, with former Widnes, Wakefield and Featherstone full-back Loz Wildbore, 26, providing the rugby league experience.

Former Neath winger Craig Richards returns to The Gnoll and the league code after a spell with Stourbridge and a previous one with Celtic Crusaders while other rugby union recruits include ex-Cardiff and Newport player Stephen Ireland and Llanharan duo Neil Dallimore and Sam Studley.

The squad also includes South Africa-born Christian Roets, who was a member of Wales' European Cup-winning team last November.

The Scorpions, who play a friendly against Wigan on Sunday week ahead of their opening fixture with Workington a week later, will also be able to call on UK-born Crusaders players who are not required by their Super League club.