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 BASED at the famous Brewery Field in Bridgend, the Celtic Crusaders are the latest additions to the world of rugby league and are the only professional club in Wales.
Established with the firm objective of becoming the Welsh franchise in Super League, the Crusaders started life in National League 2 this year. The bottom-up approach to qualification has been chosen to ensure the club grows with its playing and spectator base, into a nationally recognised sporting brand.
Tough-talking Australian John Dixon is the man who has been charged with taking the reins at the Brewery Field.
The 54-year-old Queenslander was enticed to Wales from the Brisbane Broncos, where he was assistant coach, but suffered a serious cancer scare last October when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent immediate emergency surgery back in Australia ? throwing his new role with the Crusaders into doubt.
"It was one heck of a serious scare," said Dixon, a father-of-four, who has moved to the tranquil surroundings of Ogmore with his wife Helen.
"None of us like cancer as a word. I went to get some cholesterol checks and skin checks, but they found one or two things which shouldn't be there.
"It was either feel sorry for myself or have the surgery and get on with it. like a man. I took the second option, and that's why I'm here today fighting fit with the Crusaders."
The Wallaby, who has brought over four up-and-coming young Kangaroo rugby league stars of the future with him, has a reputation of not accepting second best.
So much so that when Crusaders chief executive Chris O'Callaghan made a move to lure him to Wales, there was only going to be one option for Dixon.
"To be honest it all came totally out of the blue," he said. "I was settled at the Broncos with my family and I thought I'd say there for life after 10 seasons there on the bounce.
"But when the phone call came from Chris to come over to look around the place I decided to give it a go. I was immediately sold the Crusaders dream, and after talking it over with my family I decided it was time for me to move on into new challenge.
"I'd gone through all the grade levels in rugby league Down Under and had been assistant to Wayne Bennett at the Broncos for some time.
"It was just time for me to take the plunge and make the step up to No 1. The opportunity was just too good to turn down."
The culture shock following his move hit home during his first match as coach in the wind and rain of last month's opening Northern Rail Cup win at Hemel Hempstead.
But with the Crusaders a hot tip for promotion from National League Two, at their first attempt, transition into life at the helm for Dixon couldn't have had a smoother start.
But as the club gear up for the start of a new era of rugby league in South Wales, can Dixon be the man to fulfil the Crusaders' ambitious plans of reaching the Super League by 2008?
"I don't see why not," he added. "It's an exciting time for everyone and we are here to make our mark.
"This is the start of something new for everyone and we have no history to buy into. We make are own history and it's now down to us."
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