This question has been raised before and there's no definitive answer as yet. Feka has a child over here, so in a sane world that would go in his favour. But the incredibly picky attitude adopted by the visa people at this moment suggests that any outcome is possible.



To me, this entire business beggars belief. Sportsmen with minor convictions can't get visas to work over here for a relatively brief time, yet our inner cities seem to be overrun with pimps and gangsters from Eastern Europe, who are all living here permanently and cheerfully setting up major league criminal networks.



I'm sure it's not quite as simple as that, but from the POV of the ordinary man in the street it's completely unexplainable.

you mean like some folk in the premier league want restrictions on the number of none british players but that would contravene eu law?

the rfl didnt stop bird playing it was the british government. he wasnt allowed a visa. the rfl sanctioned his move to bradford as they did with eastwood, crocker etc.



you might be a bit slow but at least your happy, laughter is the best medicine chuck

i dont think he should be allowed in super league if the NRL wont let him play then neither should we super league is turning into an 18-30 holidays for aussies who have no respect for the game and care about the money and the fame

When you look at the bigger issue i think its more about meting government stats on immigration than tackling the illegal issues of society , So back on topic ,going for higher profile people sports men /musicians and the like puts a bigger spin on things .

Yes. It creates an unfair playing field for Catalan (who i accept are only doing what is allowed) but the RFL should have set a ruling to work alongside the government.



Its a dangerous precedent.

Do you think this means that all those Aussies - no matter whether they're good or average - who've fallen foul of the NRL for whatever reason, will now go automatically to Catalan?



If so, could be a good thing. Might concentrate the rest of SL's minds on recruiting the sort of players they should have been trying to recruit all along.

I thought Meli's problem was more to do with him being dozy and not putting his application in time and is just waiting on clearence. Could be wrong on that but i am sure i have read it somewhere

Possibly a good thing for the rest of SL, not necesarily for Catalans. The whole idea of bringing a French team into SL was to develop the French game - that doesn't mean no Aussie imports - but they must concentrate firstly on the young French talent which IMO comes in abundance, before they even consider Australian imports.

No, I don't think it means all will. But it certainly gives Catalan an advantage in terms of recruiting the real quality - like Bird.



I agree that it could help the rest of SL get their act together, and without delving too deeply into the politics of it all, the RFL have dug themselves into a corner on this one.

lets be honest, whats the guy done, hes awaiting trial, if convicted the rfl should withdraw his registration from the league, but until then should anybody be stopped plying there trade over what at this moment in time is an allegation.

The RFL had no option but to accept his registration. He has the valid necessary paperwork to play for Catalans, they wouldnt have a leg to stand on if they refused to register him.



At the end of the day, if Catalans want to fill their quota spots with criminals and troublemakers just for the sake of it, let them do it - it wont do them any good in the long run.

If he does get convicted for assault and the RFL do as you say, surely that must mean Feka gets his registration withdrawn over his GBH conviction?

It would have been nice if Catalan had voluntarily refused to sign him in the interests of SL harmony but all clubs act purely out of self interest.



It's just one more joke in the comedy performance that is Superleague, I'm afraid.

How different people's opinions would of been had he signed for Wigan

Not mine pal. You'll find plenty of posts on here recently by me that are anti imports.

In a way this highlights one potential problem of having teams from mainland europe in the competition.



This could really end in a farce if one week he is allowed into the UK then a couple of weeks later he is not.

and why not, as much as i rate feka the same rule would have to apply. however with things like this its never black and white and there are big grey areas. each case would have to be considered individually. if a guy beats someone to a pulp, and the force used is above and beyond reasonable, then he should absolutely be kicked out the league, but say a group of lads outnumber you and you break someones jaw with a punch, a pre emptive strike then absolutely not. the conviction and the circumstances leading it to it would have to be considered.

BANISHED Cronulla star Greg Bird last night finally broke his silence about a controversial move to France by declaring: "I was over the constant harassment in Australia." Bird, 25, yesterday modelled his new Catalans jumper in the southern French city of Perpignan and is set to debut for the club on Sunday morning (AEDT) against Castleford in Super League. Angry at his critics yet excited at playing again, Bird opened up to The Daily Telegraph, saying from France: "I'm just relieved to be over here and back in a football environment and back around a team again. I just want to play footy again. "I'm enjoying it over here away from the constant harassment. I was over the judgmental people (in Australia). www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

BANISHED Cronulla star Greg Bird last night finally broke his silence about a controversial move to France by declaring: "I was over the constant harassment in Australia." Bird, 25, yesterday modelled his new Catalans jumper in the southern French city of Perpignan and is set to debut for the club on Sunday morning (AEDT) against Castleford in Super League. Angry at his critics yet excited at playing again, Bird opened up to The Daily Telegraph, saying from France: "I'm just relieved to be over here and back in a football environment and back around a team again. I just want to play footy again. "I'm enjoying it over here away from the constant harassment. I was over the judgmental people (in Australia). www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

I'm not slow I'm a student of English Language and I have A levels in Politics amongst other things, so when it comes to things like this I know what I'm talking about.



I think you'll find you did not prove your point nor did you disprove mine. You pointed out that these players were refused visas and not allowed to play by the government because they're not allowed to work here. That is not proving your point that the EU could make the RFL allow Bird to play is it?



And your point about the limit of non-British players that would contravene EU Law? You'll find that the quote in SL does also. This is known as a gentlemans agreement. They're not technically allowed to do it but the teams agreed to it for the good of the game and actually do it by choice.



So who's slow now? I think it's you...

I dont care if he stays in aus or comes over here, it doesnt affect me, but Im just glad to see some quality players coming over for once instead of average garbage from aus.

Yep - At the end of the day, it sends a message to the Aussies - If you commit a crime in Australia, get banned from the NRL, don't just expect to be allowed to play here. Simple as that.

Garry Green who had his visa refused had lived over here for 3 years had his kids here and has his own business so don't be so sure.

Feka's child is English-born I think.

Wouldn't make a difference.

The French & British authorities have different rules for granting visas, the French being less strict.

Wigan have certainly benefited from this.

Michael Dobson was granted a working visa to play in France but would not have been granted a British one as he hadn't played enough first team games in the NRL.

However, because he had been granted a visa to work in an EU country, and did work for Catalans, he was entitled to work in any EU country.

So he played for Wigan with a visa he would never have gained from the British authorities.