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News from the UK: (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugb...rs/8518962.stm)
Ex-Wales and British & Irish Lions union captain Gareth Thomas is set to join Super League outfit Crusaders from Cardiff Blues, BBC Sport understands.
It is believed that the 35-year-old, whose Blues contract ends in May, will complete the move this month, perhaps as early as Friday.
Thomas is the only Wales player to reach 100 caps and has 40 Test tries.
"Do I think Gareth Thomas could play rugby league? Yes I do," said Crusaders coach Brian Noble last month.
Thomas captained Wales to their first Grand Slam in 27 years in 2005, then took over the Lions leadership in New Zealand after original skipper Brian O'Driscoll was injured in the opening Test.
Thomas has also played for Bridgend, the Celtic Warriors and spent three years in France with Toulouse, where he won the 2005 Heineken Cup.
In an interview with Scrum V recorded on Tuesday, Thomas hinted he might be moving elsewhere.
"The future for me as a rugby player is bright. I have interesting options to say the least," he said.
"Yes, moving northwards is one of the options... I feel I am as fit as anybody. If I decided to do another sport, all I have got in my head is a lot of experience and you can't buy experience - I don't feel like a 35-year-old when I am playing."
He played alongside dual-code international Iestyn Harris, who is assistant coach at the Crusaders, for Wales.
"Am I fan of Gareth Thomas. Yes. I'm also a fan of several other Welsh rugby union players," Noble told BBC Sport Wales last month.
"There have been discussions with quite a few players is what I will tell you.
"I would say the same about Andy Powell at the back of the scrum. He is a big roll ball monster who could be fabulous in rugby league.
"But you have got to make it fit for all parties and you have got to make sure you don't do something for a gimmick. We are in a situation where everybody has to contribute to the team.
"I'm a huge fan of some of their [rugby union's] athletes and some of their players and some of the things they have done.
"I'm an absolutely huge fan and I think there will be nothing better for the game of rugby league to attract some people of the right ilk, some people that can actually do something for the team as well as maybe put a few bums on seats.
"We need to bring the right people in but I'm a huge believer in the fact that there are certain people out there who can play both codes.
"The reality of that is we are interested in people who first and foremost want to play rugby league. You have got to want to play this game because it is a tough game. They are quite different technically.
"I'm interested in anyone who wants to play rugby and [they are] within our budget."
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In the UK league are taking old union players - why are we talking about taking league players?
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Originally Posted by zimeric
