Rugby stars held up by UK visa red tape
August 25 2009 by Mark Johnstone
Neil Black has UK visa stress
An English club has had its preparations for the new Rugby Union season disrupted after four star players had their arrival to Britian delayed due to UK visa problems.
Leeds Carnegies’ new signing Henry Fa'afili and Fosi Pala’amo, both from Samoa, Argentinean Juan Gomez and US international Mike MacDonald are all waiting to have their visa applications approved by UK immigration officials. They require the Tier 2 visas to allow them to move to the UK.
With the RU Guinness Premiership due to kick-off in just two weeks, the visa complications pose problems for the team’s coaching partnership of Neil Black and Andy Key.
Key said, in an interview with UK newspaper the Yorkshire Evening Post: "The situation certainly is not ideal, but we realise that we are not the only people affected by the new systems that have been put in place which are causing delays to the application process.
"We are hopeful of having all four players here in time for the start of the season on September 6 when we take on Newcastle."
The former Leicester duo are looking to steer Leeds Carnegies through their first season back in the Premiership after a year in National Division One.
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