Ailing Super League club Celtic Crusaders could face a fine of up to $A108,500 because of visa irregularities which led to several of their Australian imports being deported and banned from the country for 10 years.

The United Kingdom Borders Agency (UKBA) stopped short of issuing criminal charges against the Wales-based club but made it clear on Monday that they had been irresponsible in not checking the eligibility of the six Australian players.

Jace van Dijk, Tony Duggan, Damien Quinn, Josh Hannay, Darren Mapp and Mark Dalle Cort were all found to have breached the conditions for their UK entry in a previous year and had their visas revoked.

"Having considered all the circumstances of this case, it was not considered appropriate to pursue a criminal prosecution against Crusaders Rugby League Club," said UKBA in Wales and the South West regional director Jane Farleigh.

"However, the club has been served with a civil penalty notice for employing six illegal workers.

"The employers now face a fine of up to STG60,000 ($A108,500) unless they can prove to the agency that they carried out legally-required checks before employing workers from outside Europe.

"Businesses have a legal responsibility to carry out the correct checks and the consequences are severe for those who do not.

"The players involved have left the country and are now prohibited from working in the UK."

The Rugby Football League, the sport's governing body, is to launch its own probe into the affair.

RFL boss Nigel Wood said: "We needed confirmation from the UKBA they had concluded their inquiries.

"That has only just been received so we are at liberty now to commence any rugby league specific inquiry, which we will be doing."

The Crusaders had a disastrous Super League campaign finishing bottom of the table recording just three wins in 27 matches and garnering just six points, scoring 357 points and conceding a massive 874.

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