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Josh Hannay one of six Australian league players deported from UK
By staff writers
August 19, 2009 Six Australian rugby league players face deportation from Great Britain following a UK Borders Agency probe into the validity of their visas.
Josh Hannay, Jace van Dijk, Tony Duggan, Damien Quinn, Mark Dalle Cort and Darren Mapp, all players with Celtic Crusaders, the Super League's newest club, have until September 7 to leave the UK after being told they were working in the country illegally.
Hannay has the highest profile of the players, having played for North Queensland Cowboys, Cronulla Sharks and Queensland.
Mapp played in the NRL for Brisbane Broncos, Canberra raiders and Cronulla Sharks.
"As the result of an intelligence-led investigation into possible immigration offences among players at Celtic Crusaders, we can confirm that six Australian nationals have been served with papers confirming that they are illegally present in the UK," the UK Border Agency said in a statement.
"We now expect these individuals to leave the country. If they refuse to do so voluntarily, we will enforce their removal.
"The players are prohibited from working in the UK with immediate effect."
The players, who cannot now work in Britain for 10 years, have been banned from playing with immediate effect.
The Crusaders have cancelled the contracts of the players.
All six are understood to have pleaded guilty to hiding their intention to play semi-professional and professional sport when they applied for holiday and student visas before the Welsh club rose from the national leagues.
"Celtic Crusaders have cooperated fully with the UK Border Agency's investigation and we will abide by their findings," Crusaders chief executive Mike Turner said.
"We are sorry to be losing players who have made a big contribution in making Celtic Crusaders a Super League club.
"This situation does, however, provide us with an ideal opportunity to give some Welsh youngsters valuable first-team action for our final three games of the season, starting this Saturday when we play Leeds Rhinos in Newport."
By staff writers
August 19, 2009 Six Australian rugby league players face deportation from Great Britain following a UK Borders Agency probe into the validity of their visas.
Josh Hannay, Jace van Dijk, Tony Duggan, Damien Quinn, Mark Dalle Cort and Darren Mapp, all players with Celtic Crusaders, the Super League's newest club, have until September 7 to leave the UK after being told they were working in the country illegally.
Hannay has the highest profile of the players, having played for North Queensland Cowboys, Cronulla Sharks and Queensland.
Mapp played in the NRL for Brisbane Broncos, Canberra raiders and Cronulla Sharks.
"As the result of an intelligence-led investigation into possible immigration offences among players at Celtic Crusaders, we can confirm that six Australian nationals have been served with papers confirming that they are illegally present in the UK," the UK Border Agency said in a statement.
"We now expect these individuals to leave the country. If they refuse to do so voluntarily, we will enforce their removal.
"The players are prohibited from working in the UK with immediate effect."
The players, who cannot now work in Britain for 10 years, have been banned from playing with immediate effect.
The Crusaders have cancelled the contracts of the players.
All six are understood to have pleaded guilty to hiding their intention to play semi-professional and professional sport when they applied for holiday and student visas before the Welsh club rose from the national leagues.
"Celtic Crusaders have cooperated fully with the UK Border Agency's investigation and we will abide by their findings," Crusaders chief executive Mike Turner said.
"We are sorry to be losing players who have made a big contribution in making Celtic Crusaders a Super League club.
"This situation does, however, provide us with an ideal opportunity to give some Welsh youngsters valuable first-team action for our final three games of the season, starting this Saturday when we play Leeds Rhinos in Newport."
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