The Central Coast will be represented in all NSW Rugby League-run competitions in 2010 following the announcement yesterday that a new partnership had been formed between the Newcastle Knights and the Central Coast Rugby League.

The new team, to be known as the Central coast Crusaders, will play in the state’s premier open age competition, the NSW Cup while The Entrance Tigers make their return to the Bundaberg Red Cup competition.

Country Rugby League (CRL) general manager Terry Quinn said it was a step in the right direction for the game on the Central Coast.

“With today’s announcement grade and junior players now have a complete representative pathway available to them from under 13s through to the National Rugby League (NRL) with the Newcastle Knights,” Mr Quinn said.

“It is exciting news for both the junior and senior branches of the Central Coast Rugby League because the new Crusaders branding will be worn by all representative teams from the under 13s through to NSW Cup.

“It gives our juniors something to strive for and will hopefully keep them in our game.”

The Crusaders side will be selected from elite local players and Newcastle Knights contracted players not involved in NRL or Toyota Cup matches.

The Central Coast previously competed in the NSW Cup under a joint-venture agreement with the Melbourne Storm which began in 2007 while the Entrance Tigers are also no strangers to NSWRL open-age competitions having won the 2007 Jim Beam Cup premiership.

The Central Coast is also represented in the NSWRL’s elite junior competitions with teams in both the Harold Matthews Cup and the SG Ball Cup.

The choice of the name Crusaders has raised some eyebrows in Central Coast sporting circles as it is also the name used by Central Coast basketball teams.