Hood's letter to the League Express : Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:10 am  

What did he have to say in it?

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:11 am  

"rather than wasting time allegedly emailing information to the RFL about section 320 of the immigration rules - "visa debacle should have been no surprise" League express 2/03/09 - MP Ian McCartney's time would be better spent getting his ministerial colleagues in the home office to sort out some clear and intelligible rules that the RFL and the UK border can both understand and stick to, and the latter can operate and police with consistency.
And whilst he's about it he can have a work with his good mate the secretary of state for justice , Jack Staw, to remind him that France used not to be the only Rugby League-playing nation in Europe where a person is innocent until proven guilty.
I can say because i am in a position to know that the senior staff of the RFL were in close and continuous dialogue with the UK Border Agency for a long time during the lead-up to the introduction of the new points based immigration rules. I can also tell your readers that every club received a visit from an officer of the UK border Agency. So to suggest that the Clubs " might have done a little more checking" is, with respect, complete nonsense. The Fact is the policy now being applied to the visas is inconsistent with the advise and briefings given to the RFL and to the clubs.
The RFL is taking the matter up at the Meeting at the FCO next week. I doubt that Mr McCartney has been invited to attend
Peter Hood , Chairman , Bradford Bulls"

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:15 am  

Smackdown, cheers for transcribing.

Is it cheeky to ask for McCartney's letter?

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:19 am  

You'll still never convince some that the club and indeed the RFL did indeed know what is was doing and did indeed go through the necessary checking and due diligence. After all, that would not suit the "sack everyone from the board to the stadium cat" agenda!

I remain suspicious that the application of this policy reflected an anti-RL agenda somewhere up in the hierarchy of the authorities - would it have happened in Union, soccer or cricket?

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:25 am  

Adeybull wrote:

You'll still never convince some that the club and indeed the RFL did indeed know what is was doing and did indeed go through the necessary checking and due diligence. After all, that would not suit the "sack everyone from the board to the stadium cat" agenda!

I remain suspicious that the application of this policy reflected an anti-RL agenda somewhere up in the hierarchy of the authorities - would it have happened in Union, soccer or cricket?

Sad indictment of RL journalism that no one (AFAIK) investigated as to whether this occured in other sports. Far better to make smug comments about the need to bring on young British talent, as if the two courses of action were mutaully exclusive.

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:44 am  

af wrote:

Sad indictment of RL journalism that no one (AFAIK) investigated as to whether this occured in other sports. Far better to make smug comments about the need to bring on young British talent, as if the two courses of action were mutaully exclusive.

I gave up reading Sadler's Rag a while ago. Smacked too much of being the media arm of Headingley to me.

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:49 am  

Adeybull wrote:

I gave up reading Sadler's Rag a while ago. Smacked too much of being the media arm of Headingley to me.

The Quins home match reports were a redeeming feature, though they've gone downhill this year.

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:49 am  

af wrote:

The Quins home match reports were a redeeming feature, though they've gone downhill this year.

I can't for the life of me imagine why that might be...?

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:56 am  

af wrote:

Is it cheeky to ask for McCartney's letter?

Maybe its me being thick but iv been thou last weeks paper cover to cover and cant find anything with McCartney's name attached ! or a letter or article called ""visa debacle should have been nos surprise" havent got the week before to check that

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:47 am  

af wrote:

...

Is it cheeky to ask for McCartney's letter?

Heather, you're a gold-digging psycho. Now hop it.

Love, Paul