LONDON (Reuters) - Six Australians playing for Welsh rugby league club Celtic Crusaders will be deported from Britain after they breached visa regulations, the UK Border Agency said on Tuesday.

Captain Jace van Dijk, top try-scorer Tony Duggan, Damien Quinn, Darren Mapp, Mark Dalle Cort and Josh Hannay had all been playing for the Bridgend-based club in the Super League.

“As the result of an intelligence-led investigation into possible immigration offences among players at Celtic Crusaders, we can confirm that six Australian nationals have been served with papers confirming that they are illegally present in the UK,” a UK Border Agency statement read.

“We now expect these individuals to leave the country. If they refuse to do so voluntarily, we will enforce their removal. The players are prohibited from working in the UK with immediate effect.”

Crusaders chief executive Mike Turner said they would abide by the ruling.

“We are sorry to be losing players who have made a big contribution in making Celtic Crusaders a Super League club,” he said on the club’s website (www.crusadersrfl.com).

“Celtic Crusaders have cooperated fully with the UK Border Agency’s investigation and we will abide by their findings.”

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Sonia Oxley)

Keywords: RUGBY/DEPORTATION

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Tuesday, 18 August 2009 13:12:35RTRS [nLI593134] {EN}ENDS