Haggerty joins Crusaders

North Wales Crusaders have signed Kurt Haggerty on a dual registration deal from Widnes Vikings.

Haggerty, 23, will go in to contention for Sunday’s Championship 1 clash against Rochdale.

The back rower’s first professional club was St Helens where his only first team outing was a friendly match against Widnes in 2008. After a brief loan spell with Carcassonne he moved on to Leigh where he made his senior debut before linking up with Blackpool. He won the Man of the Match Award in the Panthers’ 132-0 demolition of Gateshead Thunder just weeks before his transfer to the Vikings in June 2010.

Despite missing much of last season through a knee injury, Haggerty’s impressive performances when he did take to the field resulted in him being awarded a Super League contract and he played in Widnes’ first three matches of the 2012 season.

North Wales Crusaders coach Clive Griffiths said: “He has Super League experience and has also played at the top level in France. He’ll help us a lot over the next few weeks and will bring his vast knowledge and quality to the squad. He’ll help the youngsters along too which is vital for us in our early development.”

Haggerty was recently suspended by Widnes for undisclosed disciplinary reasons, the fourth Viking to receive such punishment this season.