Bird - Another loophole that RFL will close??? : Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:14 pm  

Looking at the Bird situation, I think it is wrong that a player should be able to play for a team in our competition when he was not granted a working visa for the UK. I am sure that the RFL will close this loophole somehow, but are we again going to be the last victim of a poor ruling before it is changed?

We should make sure that we do all we can to stop him gaining access to the UK , and lobby the RFL to ensure that all member clubs are working under the same rules, or we should exclude the non uk clubs.

what do you think?

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:24 pm  

i dont see the RFL being able to change the laws of Europe , the only way to do it is to exculde all no uk Clubs , which with the success the catalans would seem a bit much to stop somthing that isnt really gonna happen all that often

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:45 pm  

If he can get a visa to work in France, let him sign for the french. Us kicking off over it won't change anything. Besides, I believe this would could as restriction of trade so that's a none starter isn't it?

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:26 pm  

So he's been denied a visa to ply his trade in the UK.

Does that mean he'll be out every other week?

[Bullseye]

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:50 pm  

AaronBull wrote:

So he's been denied a visa to ply his trade in the UK.

Does that mean he'll be out every other week?

Could be! I expect that will go down really well with those players he's competing with for a place in the team. He gets in for all the home games while they get the tougher away ones.

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:14 pm  

Rugby league. The laughing stock of world sport. Enough said.

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:39 pm  

If Bird does sign for Catalans and is cleared to play games in this country I am done with Rugby League, that would be an absolute farce. I have followed Northern/Bulls since 1975, but if the club do not object strongly to this move I would go back to watching City

He has been refused a UK visa, period, so how on earth can he be allowed to come over here and 'work' every other week? French employers or not, no visa, no work surely!

If the RFL do allow this Catalans will be in Eutopia, sit back, let the English clubs sound out players and arrange contracts, then simply step in if a visa is refused and snap them up. Joke.

Rant Over

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:31 pm  

Tartanbull wrote:

If Bird does sign for Catalans and is cleared to play games in this country I am done with Rugby League, that would be an absolute farce. I have followed Northern/Bulls since 1975, but if the club do not object strongly to this move I would go back to watching City

He has been refused a UK visa, period, so how on earth can he be allowed to come over here and 'work' every other week? French employers or not, no visa, no work surely!

If the RFL do allow this Catalans will be in Eutopia, sit back, let the English clubs sound out players and arrange contracts, then simply step in if a visa is refused and snap them up. Joke.

Rant Over

Bird HAS signed for catalans - announced this morning. expected to be on bench against cas at weekend. The ironic thing is assuming the worst case that he isnt allowed entry to play in uk and only plays home games and gets sent down after court case then seeing as we play catalans away in a fortnight we could be one of the only teams to come up against a match fit greg bird

with wigan and salford being the only other two teams going to catalans after us and before his court case.

[Bullseye]

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:30 pm  

It's not the club's or the RFL's fault that Bird is at the Catalans and may end up playing us. If you want to complain then write to your MP.

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:32 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

It's not the club's or the RFL's fault that Bird is at the Catalans and may end up playing us. If you want to complain then write to your MP.

who's complaining? just seems a bit ironic or as im sure fans of other clubs would say - its karma