Brian Noble, the Crusaders head coach, sees a possible switch of codes by Gareth Thomas, the 35-year-old former Wales and Lions rugby union captain, as a means of strengthening his squad and raising the Engage Super League club’s profile.

Preliminary talks have taken place between Crusaders and the player’s representative. “It’s a nice rumour to be involved in, but that’s all it is at the moment,” Noble, whose side won for the first time this season against Salford City Reds on Friday, said. “We’re interested in strengthening the squad — we’ve made no secret of that — and we’re looking at a number of players.”

Gavin Henson, the former Wales centre, was linked with the previous Celtic Crusaders regime in Bridgend, where he was a regular spectator. But Thomas, who hit the headlines in December when he announced he was gay, fulfils the high-profile remit of a player that the club have been searching for unsuccessfully. Thomas is Wales’s most-capped player, with 100 appearances, and is ninth in the all-time international tryscoring list, but as a union veteran would have little time to learn league’s tricks.

On the question of whether Thomas could make the transition to rugby league at his age — he is 36 in July and would be the oldest player in the competition by a considerable margin — Noble was also positive. “Absolutely,” he said. “There’s a few people that come into that category. He’s an iconic player in Wales and I’m a big fan of what he’s done in the game. I think he’s a very talented player.”

Thomas’s contract at Cardiff Blues expires in May and he has been linked with a coaching position at the Ospreys, although a short-term switch to league may tempt him. “Gareth is fully committed to Cardiff, but we’re assessing his options,” Emanuele Palladino, his agent, said. “However, at the moment we don’t want to comment on any individual case.”

Adrian Morley was found not guilty by the RFL disciplinary committee of a high tackle in Saturday’s 28-16 win over Castleford Tigers, but Garreth Carvell, his fellow Warrington Wolves prop, is considering appealing against a one-match ban for illegal use of the forearm in the same match that would keep him out of Saturday’s home game against Wigan Warriors.