Dobson was at the Mason launch, so I think it is simply a temporary measure.

If it was 'cheating' we would be up before the RFL, as it is we are playing within the rules laid down by the RFL, if they don't like it they should change them.

So Mason can be a Tongan for RFL purposes and therefore off quota, but is either Aussie or NZ for visa purposes (and is presumably this now because of the quota issue highlighted)?

I may be remembering this wrong, but didn't Zod start throwing RFL rules round about the quota a few weeks ago? Maybe the club can't get him off the quota and the reason he arrived so suddenly this week is entirely due to Dobson's injury. If the Tongan passport doesn't actually materialise, what happens then? Someone else makes way for Willie???

To say nothing of the issue of Mason working on a visa based on one nationality, and then actually being another nationality....

Or Dobson's inability to work in the job his visa refers to, such that his employer has now de-registered him as an employee...

Dobson to Saints

.. no, wait

Dobson to Leeds

...no, wait

Dobson to Canberra

...no, wait

Dobson to ................ (enter team as required)

He's probably referring to the [iPie Eaters[/i.

It is that that has me scratching my head.
Is he working on a Aussie or a Tongan visa?

He's not that good I doubt anyone would want to sign him.

Your slipping, thought you might have entered Skolars or something

Christ knows!

Technically its a UK visa, but issued on the basis of certain nationality, but I know what you mean

Heard York was interested but they think Thorman is a better player.

Can he have 2 Visa's runing side by side and a quick trip to france and back will let him swap which one he is on?
Or could it be that the Visa folks just need his passport details where as the RFL actually need to see the passport itself.

If he's travelled on his nz passport then surely he's come with that on his visa, will he have to get a new visa when his Tongan passport is received?

So many ifs and buts isn't there lol

My worrying thought is that if its only temporary would it not be easier to "de-register" vella for this? Not saying he isn't important but we have more cover in that area then we do at the halves

Vella isn't on the overseas quota though. De-registering him wouldn't make any difference

You'd think the obvious choice would have been Clinton ? Whose rumoured to want away anyway.

Considering Vella doesn't count on the quota then no.

That's exactly what I was thinking god what a bloody mess

Isnt he on a Maltese passport?

Clinton has apparently relocated to Brough and is a lot more settled there.

And seeing as he will be playing on Sunday, de-registering him wouldn't be a wise move.

And also stop saying why not de-register Vella. You might as well de-register Netherton, it won't make a difference.

His EU passport takes him off the quota, because he signed pre 2008 takes him off non fed.

I can see that I might have to start charging for visa advice.....

I don't know of a restriction on the number of visas, but it would probably confuse the Immigration Officer as there would be conflicting records of arrivals and visa numbers might not match up properly on the IT system, so they'd probably want him to be on one passport and one visa.

The visa folks will need to see his passport each time he travels in and out of the country, but I think the above issue is more to do with the interpretation of the RFL operational rules on the quota. I don't imagine renewing the visa in the Tongan passport will be an issue. But it will cost just over a grand to get it done quickly, and that also means the passport has to be issued and arrive here. It was illegal to send a passport across international borders, but don't think it is now. Maybe Hudge will camp outside the Tongan High Commiossion to wait for it arriving in the diplomatic bag.

Better keep it out of the sun then, We'd be fookered if it melted.

The Tongan passport must just be for the RFL I imagine. That is likely what we've been waiting for (and still are it seems). The assertions that he has had his visa for a while look plausible again.

I'd be curious to see the rules about de- and re-registering players. I can't imagine they allow you to rotate your spots between whoever is fit to play at any given time, all that easily.

IIRC (and my memory may be playing tricks) you could de-register a player due to injury (Wigan did that with someone, Brian Carney, for cap reasons I belive), but it used to be a one way thing, ie once someone was de-registered that was it for the season, you can/couldn't flip them back and forth to suit circumstance.

But de-registration is not the same as terminating someones contract, so unless someone at rovers has dropped a clanger Dobson is still on contract, but not registered, and the RFL has put out a dodgy press release/website article.