Jesus what is it with this country it is a disgrace

How interesting it is to note that once again the RL has double standards. I always thought they were leaning as much as they could to get the Welsh team into Super league at the expense of Widnes. The rules state quite clearly that 'in order to register any import player The RL require a work visa and a signed contract'.

For me the whole welsh fiasco is down to the League once again pandering to Sky TV. They are, for my money, behind this expansionist clap trap!

Just had a look on the RFL website and guess what, not a mention of this story. The RFL will have a hard time getting their story straight on this one!The RFL are a joke, no way did Celtic Crusaders score better than Widnes or Leigh in the assessment, they were fast tracked as an 'experiment'. How can they survive, I say get rid and bring Widnes in next season.

You guys faced expulsion for playing one ineligible player in the cc, surely playing six should see Celtic kicked out of Super League.

Which ineligible players have they played?

The 6 that are being deported Kosh.

we got the highest fine ever for playing 1, they played 6 they are skint, oh dear not looking good is it

You may find there is a difference between being allowed to work in the UK (an immigration matter) and being registered with the RFL to play Super League (an administrative matter).

Surely the fault lies not with Crusaders but with the RFL for registering them when they did not have the proper visas.

Not if the RFl had accpeted there registrations

Guess they will end up at Catalans

You've done agency work, they have to make the relevant checks to make sure you are eligible to work in the UK, I would imagine the RFL should have done the same, and certainly it seems Catalans were maybe already aware they had a potential problem.

Im assuming here that under the asylum and immigration legislation Celtic carried out the proper checks before employeeing the individuals. If they didnt they would be liable for serious punishment as an employer. The RFL i guess should also check the eligibility or at least regulate it

Its not like its there first season here too.

oh and Standee, i also know the other side of agency work

I just had a thought "VISA Problems" maybe the statement has hit the doormat in East Hull!!!!!

As Hutchie pointed out, they were duly registered with the RFL who (according to their rules) have to ensure that visas and work permits are present and correct before registration.

There's also the fact that they have been deported due to problems with visas from previous seasons, not this one.

All somewhat farcical, but technically they were eligible to play right up to the point when the UKBA kicked them out and Celtic cancelled their contracts.

Im wondering legally what rights they have to kick them out based on previous discrepencies as they have current permits and visas. Surely they would be better to say a mistake has happened but its not current so we will let it go, no harm done.

I think no matter who is to blame, they have been playing 6 inelligible players all season. If any other club had done that, they would be in hot water big time. But like you say, the RFL aren't going to knock their 'baby' are they? What a shambles

No idea. I can only assume that if they were found to have deliberately falsified previous visa applications it instantly revoked any current permissions. They've been banned from returning to the country for 10 years so I guess whatever they did was considered to be pretty major.

Where's Chris28 when you need him?

WALES!!!!

Not sure they do "a mistake has happened".

Stuck in France, the UKBA wouldnt let him back in the country

Didnt realise about the 10 year things. Sounds like some kind of fraudulent application. (although would that lead to criminal proceedings or deportation?)

There's some more stuff come out in one of the papers. Looks as if they may have hidden their intention to play professional and/or semi-pro sport when applying for holiday and student visas. I guess that would count as fraudulent. And they've admitted to lying on their applications.

This could turn into a real mess. Using holiday and student visas to get overseas players into the country was apparently a common practice outside SL up until this season, so if the UKBA decide to widen the enquiry there could be further trouble ahead.

If it does widen we need to look at all overseas players that have played in NL1 and NL2 professionally that are still playing sport in the UK currently.

Guess this has implications for teams that have come up to SL in the last 4 or 5 years.

I'm back now - Hutchie's tip off meant they held me up when I got back



This sounds like the most plausible explanation Kosh. Some visas allow some part time etc work, but not pursuing a career or providing services as a pro sportsman or entertainer and they may have hidden that when applying for the visas originally. If they've admitted lying the 10 year ban is automatic (although it means really that any visa application in the next 10 years will automatically be refused). If this "route" has been used before, there could be whole can of worms about to open up and someone who advises in this area could be useful to SL clubs