Andy BRACEK [
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Wed August 10, 2011
Source: www.crusadersrfl.comCrusaders' Andy Bracek says he is nearer to making his Crusaders debut.
The Welsh international has been back in full training with the squad for a few weeks now and head coach Iestyn Harris has promised him some game time before the season ends.
He could even make an appearance against Harlequins this Friday at the Racecourse Ground (8PM).
It has been a long road to recovery for Bracek, who has missed over ten months of action due to a knee injury, sustained playing for Barrow last season.
However, he has been working extremely hard with the Crusaders medical team and is now on the verge of making his longly awaited bow for the Welsh side.
And the second-row admits he is itching to pull on the Crusaders jersey for the first time.
"I can't wait," he said.
"Obviously I am delighted because it has been a long road for me personally. My progress with the physio and the coaching staff has been going quicker than expected and this week my knee has felt brilliantly.
"Iestyn pulled me to one side and said I will get opportunities before the end of the season. I am looking forward to finally making my Crusaders debut. The club has been brilliant with me in terms of my recovery and I cannot thank the staff and players enough for all the encouragement they've given me.
"I have trained quite a bit and my knee feels good. I've totally forgotten about the injury and there is no sign of niggles or pain. Obviously the coaching staff are being extra cautious with me and I won't play if I do not feel 100%. But my knee feels stronger than ever and touch wood it will be all right.
"There has been a big build up of testosterone brewing over the past few months! I am really pumped to make my Crusaders debut. I've not got it in my vocabulary to describe how much it will mean to get on the rugby field again.
Crusaders will be looking to make it back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they take on Harlequins this Friday.
The side rallied together from the shock of the club's owners withdrawing their Super League licence to record an impressive 6-40 win over Wakefield Wildcats in their last match.
And despite players now having to look for new clubs in 2012, Bracek insists the squad are fully focused on the Crusaders cause and helping the club off the bottom of the table.
Bracek added: "Harlequins is a massive game for us. It is a winnable game for us and we need to get ourselves off the bottom of the table. These last four games are huge and certain games are certainly within our grasp. We are defiantly targeting 4/4 - we are not just going to put our swords now down because of what has happened.
"We've got a lot to play for - not just in terms of our league position, but in terms of pride and for the fans. They have been let down just as much as anyone and we feel the need to repay them because they have stuck with us through thick and thin. They were brilliant against Wakefield and I'm sure they will stick with us until the end.
"I've got to find a new club for next year and I have been talking to a few clubs. Nothing has been signed yet and a lot of things are changing at other clubs so we shall wait and see. With 20-odd players on the market it is always going to be difficult, especially because I have not played a lot. But I am really focused on playing well for Crusaders and helping the club off the bottom of the table."
Tickets for this Friday's match at Harlequins are available www.crusadersrfl.com by calling the ticket office on 0871 221 9511 or from the Mold Road club shop in person.
Wed July 6, 2011
Source: www.crusadersrfl.comAndy Bracek insists he will be forever indebted to the Crusaders as he continues his recovery from a serious knee injury.
Welsh international Bracek, 24, penned an 18-month contract with the Crusaders earlier this year.
The former St Helens and Warrington star had been without a club following his release from Barrow.
And after picking up a serious knee injury, the talented backrower feared life on the rugby league scrap heap. He even took a job as a labourer to ensure that regular money was coming in to support his family.
However, Crusaders head coach Iestyn Harris, who worked closely with Bracek with the Welsh national side, was prepared to take a chance.
The club have worked closely with Bracek on his rehabilitation and he is now just a few weeks away from being cleared to return.
And Bracek says he cannot wait to repay the club.
"My recovery is going well," he said.
"I'm hoping to be putting my hand up in six weeks but a lot of that depends on when I get the ok from the medical staff. That is only part of the battle because I then have to force my way into the team. It doesn't give me a lot of time to get some games under my belt but I am confident I can do it.
"I cannot wait to get back playing. I've gone through a lot of emotions since I've been out and it has been one of the most difficult periods of my life.
"I've got a young family and I was in a pretty bad place at the start of the year. I didn't have a club and no-one would touch me because of my injury. I'd gone from earning a good wage at Barrow to wondering where my next paycheck was coming from. I was doing a bit of labouring to get some money and support my family.
"Crusaders came to my rescue so to speak. They took a chance on me when no-one else would and really looked after me when times were tough. Everything is going well at the moment and I'm grateful to the club for giving me another crack at Super League. I'm taking this opportunity with both hands and I'm going to make the most of it. I want to repay the faith all the people at the Crusaders have shown in me.
"I've also been a bit smarter off the field. Being out for so long has made me appreciate how lucky I am to play rugby league professional. I've been doing a professional trainers course as well whilst I'm here so I've got something to fall back on. A rugby league player's career is short to it's important that you start to think about life outside the sport."
And while he continues his recovery, Andy Bracek has become part of the Crusaders community coaching staff.
As well as going through intense rehabilitation with the Crusaders coaching staff, Bracek will also be delivering rugby league in local schools and running the club's touch rugby sessions at Queensway.
And he says he in thoroughly enjoying his new role.
He added: "I'm getting out and about and I am enjoying it.
"I am working in conjunction with Matt Pritchard (Community Development Manager). I will be looking after the Street Rugby project as well as the touch rugby sessions and I am really enjoying it. I'm also going into schools to help deliver rugby league and it has been good to see such a positive response from the local people. I am enjoying getting out and about in the community.
"It is good to give something back and being involved in something that I love. I've been involved with community work at Barrow and Warrington and it is always good to get stuck in. There seems to be a real desire them wouldn't have dreamed of getting involved before Crusaders came to Wrexham. It is about spreading the word and helping Crusaders as a club.
"This area could become a real rugby league hotbed over the next few years. I've had a great reception and everyone has been really supportive. There is a real passion for the game and it will continue to grow."
This Saturday Crusaders take on Hull KR at the Racecourse Ground (KO 3PM).
Early bird tickets are now available, starting at £15 for adults and £7 for children.
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 2011 Four Nations Test Series
Wales
2 games; [View] Round 1 [29 Oct 11] L 4-42 v England (A). [SR]
[View] Round 2 [05 Nov 11] L 0-36 v New Zealand. [BE]
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2011 engage English Super League
North Wales Crusaders
2 games; [View] Round 26 [04 Sep 11] L 24-48 v Bradford (A). [BE]
[View] Round 27 [09 Sep 11] L 10-42 v Wigan (A). [BE]
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2008 engage English Super League
Warrington Wolves
22 games; 5 tries, 20 points.
[View] Round 2 [15 Feb 08] L 22-30 v St Helens (A). [BE]
[View] Round 3 [24 Feb 08] W 29-28 v Hull KR (A). [BE]
[View] Round 4 [02 Mar 08] W 38-18 v Les Catalans (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 5 [08 Mar 08] W 32-20 v Wigan (H). [BE]
[View] Round 6 [16 Mar 08] L 10-23 v Bradford (A). [BE]
[View] Round 7 [21 Mar 08] W 30-14 v Huddersfield (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 8 [24 Mar 08] W 34-31 v Castleford (A). [BE]
[View] Round 9 [29 Mar 08] L 6-8 v Harlequins (H). [LK]
[View] Round 10 [06 Apr 08] L 2-16 v Wakefield (A). [BE]
[View] Round 11 [11 Apr 08] L 12-32 v Leeds (A). [LK]
[View] Round 12 [25 Apr 08] L 22-30 v St Helens (H). [BE]
[View] Round 13 [03 May 08] W 36-34 v Huddersfield. [BE] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 14 [16 May 08] L 14-38 v Wigan (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 15 [26 May 08] L 28-36 v Castleford (H). [BE]
[View] Round 16 [08 Jun 08] W 40-24 v Harlequins (A). [BE]
[View] Round 17 [15 Jun 08] W 38-20 v Hull KR (H). [BE]
[View] Round 18 [21 Jun 08] L 14-52 v Les Catalans (A). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [19 Jul 08] W 19-18 v Huddersfield (A). [BE]
[View] Round 24 [09 Aug 08] L 16-17 v St Helens (A). [BE]
[View] Round 26 [24 Aug 08] L 24-44 v Castleford (A). [BE]
[View] Round 27 [06 Sep 08] L 20-38 v Huddersfield (H). [BE]
[View] Finals Week 1 [13 Sep 08] L 8-46 v Catalans (A). [BE]
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2007 engage English Super League
Warrington Wolves
16 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 8 [06 Apr 07] W 34-32 v Salford City (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 9 [09 Apr 07] L 18-26 v Huddersfield (H). [BE]
[View] Round 10 [15 Apr 07] L 10-52 v Leeds (H). [PR]
[View] Round 11 [21 Apr 07] L 16-27 v Les Catalans (A). [PR]
[View] Round 15 [28 May 07] L 12-40 v St Helens (H). [BE]
[View] Round 16 [01 Jun 07] L 26-42 v Leeds (A). [BE]
[View] Round 17 [17 Jun 07] W 31-12 v Wakefield (H). [BE]
[View] Round 18 [30 Jun 07] L 22-24 v Catalans (A). [BE]
[View] Round 19 [08 Jul 07] W 47-28 v Huddersfield (A). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [22 Jul 07] W 60-20 v Hull KR (A). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [05 Aug 07] W 43-24 v Wigan (H). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [12 Aug 07] L 14-46 v Hull FC (A). [BE]
[View] Round 24 [19 Aug 07] W 22-18 v Catalans (H). [SR]
[View] Round 25 [31 Aug 07] L 22-34 v Huddersfield (H). [SR]
[View] Round 26 [07 Sep 07] L 16-36 v St Helens (A). [SR]
[View] Round 27 [14 Sep 07] W 34-26 v Salford City (A). [BE]
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2006 engage English Super League
Warrington Wolves
11 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 2 [19 Feb 06] L 20-26 v Huddersfield (A). [BE]
[View] Round 14 [12 May 06] L 22-34 v St Helens (A). [BE]
[View] Round 17 [18 Jun 06] L 16-17 v Wakefield (H). [BE]
[View] Round 18 [23 Jun 06] L 12-30 v Wigan (A). [BE]
[View] Round 19 [02 Jul 06] L 26-52 v Castleford (A). [BE]
[View] Round 20 [09 Jul 06] W 30-26 v Huddersfield (H). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [23 Jul 06] W 22-20 v Wigan (H). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [04 Aug 06] L 22-50 v Bradford (A). [BE]
[View] Round 24 [11 Aug 06] L 34-35 v Salford City (A). [BE]
[View] Round 25 [19 Aug 06] W 28-22 v Harlequins (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 26 [01 Sep 06] L 16-54 v Leeds (A). [BE]
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2005 English Super League
Warrington Wolves
8 games; [View] Round 3 [27 Feb 05] L 10-32 v Hull (A). [BE]
[View] Round 4 [04 Mar 05] L 16-18 v St Helens (H). [BE]
[View] Round 5 [11 Mar 05] L 6-38 v Rhinos (A). [BE]
[View] Round 6 [20 Mar 05] W 14-8 v Huddersfield (H). [BE]
[View] Round 7 [25 Mar 05] L 10-42 v Salford (A). [BE]
[View] Round 25 [21 Aug 05] W 60-16 v Widnes (A). [BE]
[View] Round 27 [10 Sep 05] W 33-16 v Leeds (H). [BE]
[View] Round 28 [16 Sep 05] W 30-16 v Hull (A). [BE]
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Bracek, Andy
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