Cougars seek assistance from RFL in Rawlins impasse. : Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:34 am
Keighley Cougars are becoming increasingly frustrated by the non-appearance of the visa for their Australian forward Brendon Rawlins.
Cougars Head Coach Barry Eaton has contacted the sport’s governing body, the RFL, in a bid to unlock the apparent log jam at the British embassy in Australia.
Rawlins had returned to his native country at the behest of the UK Border Agency to finalise his work permit after winning an appeal against the RFL’s refusal to make him a preferred player for a visa.
“We’ve had to postpone two flights for Brendon and it’s costing both us and him good money,” said Eaton.
“Brendon’s frustrated because he’s just sitting there waiting for something to happen and losing money because he’s not able to draw his match bonuses.
“And the club’s frustrated because we keeping booking flights in anticipation of him having a visa and we’re badly short of prop forward because of injuries to players out here.
“Back in February we were told it would take up to 25 days for the visa to come through but, amazingly even though we’re now in April there’s still no sign of anything happening.
“We’re beginning to loose faith in the immigration system so we’ve asked the RFL to intervene in the hope that it might speed things a long a little.”
Helen Carter, the Cougars’ General Manager, said: “No stone has been left unturned as we seek to break the impasse. We’re hoping that the RFL may be able to lend their weight to resolving the situation”.
