Rugby League: The crusade moves on again

LONDON CRUSADERS rugby league club, bought by Australia's Brisbane Broncos in January, are still searching for a stadium. The advantage of their present venue, Barnet Copthall Stadium, its proximity to the southern end of the M1, is outweighed by its bleakness.

Tony Gordon, the Crusaders' coach, was unable to comment on the Great Ground Hunt. The boys from Brisbane will sort it out, he said. The Broncos' spokesman, Bill Walker, confirmed that talks were continuing with three venues: Millwall and QPR football grounds, and the National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace.

But a persistent rumour in league circles suggests that the Crusaders may buy Cardiff City football club as a temporary home while the search for a London ground continues. Cardiff has had a rugby league team before (the Blue Dragons of the 1980s), crowds would be high, and Cardiff's chairman, Rick Wright, has declared that he is willing to let the club go for pounds 500,000. Sadly, the Broncos' Bill couldn't confirm this attractive scenario. 'I haven't heard anything on those lines, mate. At this stage our options are open, but there's been no move towards Cardiff.' Watch this space.