RFL spokesman worried about UK visa rules for sport
August 24 2009 by Mark Johnstone
Craig Spence UK visa concern
Rugby Football league communications manager Craig Spence has called for UK immigration to be clearer on their current rules.
His concern follows the likely deportations of six Australian players who were in breach of UK visa rules.
The six players, all from Welsh club side Celtic Crusaders, will shortly learn if they must leave the UK and return to Australia.
In an interview for BBC Sport website, Spence has warned immigration officials need to be clearer on the current rules and this may affect other clubs.
Spence said: "I think the UK Borders Agency need to be clearer on their current rules. They have changed their rules here three times in the last nine years."
The UK Borders Agency, responsible for the ruling, are due to submit a report on why the Celtic Crusaders players are being potentially deported. It is suspected the players were working in the UK on invalid visas.
"This issue is regarding players being on working or holiday-maker visas from the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Now we've looked into it and there are 13 others clubs that employ players on the same visas,” said Spence.
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