Crusaders snap up Noble to boost fortunes

Brian Noble is to head the new regime charged with rescuing the Celtic Crusaders. The former Bradford and Great Britain coach, discarded by Wigan less than two weeks ago, has been appointed head coach at the Welsh outpost of Super League.

Jon Sharp, the ex-Huddersfield coach, will be first-team coach, with the dual-code international Iestyn Harris completing a highly experienced new team.

"I feel it's a fabulous opportunity the three of us have been given," Noble said. "It's an awesome challenge. The potential is there to build something and leave something special."

Noble, aged 48, replaces John Dixon, whose contract was not renewed after a troubled first Super League season that saw the Bridgend-based Crusaders finish last and have six players deported. Like Noble, Sharp was out of work after losing his previous job – as director of coaching at Hull.

Huddersfield's Paul Whatuira has been taken to a secure unit for mental assessment, after being arrested in connection with an alleged street attack. Whatuira, a member of the Giants' Challenge Cup final team at Wembley in August, was arrested after an incident on the outskirts of Huddersfield which left one man with severe facial injuries. He was taken to Huddersfield police station, but later moved to a secure unit in Bradford for an assessment on his mental health.