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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_league/article5533706.ece
From The Times
January 17, 2009
Bradford swoop for Greg Birds signature after other suitors lose interest
Christopher Irvine
div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited {color:#06c;}Bradford Bulls emerged yesterday as surprise winners in the race by engage Super League clubs to sign Greg Bird, the controversial 24-year-old Australia stand-off, who earlier gained a release from his four-year contract at Cronulla Sharks to revive his career in England.
Bird has been sidelined at Cronulla since he was arrested for allegedly attacking Katie Milligan, his American girlfriend, in August. He is due in court in Sydney on April 27 on charges of reckless wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and lying to police. Bird has maintained his innocence and Milligan has stood by him.
Bradford swooped for Bird after Wigan Warriors pulled out of the race and Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield Giants, who have been casting around for a replacement for Todd Carney, the Australian who was refused a visa by the British High Commission in Canberra last week, withdrew their interest.
Ian Lenagan, the Wigan chairman, confirmed that the Warriors had made a bid for the player, but added: We are not going to bust the salary cap and we are not going to pay stupid money to bring Bird to Wigan.
Bradford have lined up Bird as a direct replacement for Iestyn Harris, the former dual-code Wales player who has dropped down a division to join Featherstone Rovers as a player-coach.
While Bradford wait on Birds visa application, Michael Crocker, the Australia forward, has revealed that a criminal conviction has been holding up his move to Hull. The second-row forward had been due at the club last month but has yet to receive a visa and was in Melbourne as his new team-mates travelled to Portugal this week for their pre-season camp.
Crocker, who has been training with his former team-mates at Melbourne Storm, said that British Embassy officials had requested copies of police and court documents from his arrest and conviction for affray after a scuffle outside a Sydney hotel in 2005.
Right now I am just waiting on the legal documents they requested to arrive, Crocker said. I am hoping they will get here this week, so I can get it completed and sent off by Monday, so they can do their review. Once the work permit comes through I will book a flight and get over there. Hopefully I will be there in time to at least have a few hit-outs with the boys before the season starts.
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this question from the UK visa application will be the curly one ...
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/tier2sportsperson.pdf
E3. Has the applicant ever been charged in any country with a criminal offence for which he/she has not yet been tried in court ?
If answered yes please give further details .
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given the British high commision's recent history of delaying and/or refusing work visa applications I wouldn't be holding my breath waiting for Greg Bird running onto the field with Bradford anytime soon .
From The Times
January 17, 2009
Bradford swoop for Greg Birds signature after other suitors lose interest
Christopher Irvine
div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited {color:#06c;}Bradford Bulls emerged yesterday as surprise winners in the race by engage Super League clubs to sign Greg Bird, the controversial 24-year-old Australia stand-off, who earlier gained a release from his four-year contract at Cronulla Sharks to revive his career in England.
Bird has been sidelined at Cronulla since he was arrested for allegedly attacking Katie Milligan, his American girlfriend, in August. He is due in court in Sydney on April 27 on charges of reckless wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and lying to police. Bird has maintained his innocence and Milligan has stood by him.
Bradford swooped for Bird after Wigan Warriors pulled out of the race and Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield Giants, who have been casting around for a replacement for Todd Carney, the Australian who was refused a visa by the British High Commission in Canberra last week, withdrew their interest.
Ian Lenagan, the Wigan chairman, confirmed that the Warriors had made a bid for the player, but added: We are not going to bust the salary cap and we are not going to pay stupid money to bring Bird to Wigan.
Bradford have lined up Bird as a direct replacement for Iestyn Harris, the former dual-code Wales player who has dropped down a division to join Featherstone Rovers as a player-coach.
While Bradford wait on Birds visa application, Michael Crocker, the Australia forward, has revealed that a criminal conviction has been holding up his move to Hull. The second-row forward had been due at the club last month but has yet to receive a visa and was in Melbourne as his new team-mates travelled to Portugal this week for their pre-season camp.
Crocker, who has been training with his former team-mates at Melbourne Storm, said that British Embassy officials had requested copies of police and court documents from his arrest and conviction for affray after a scuffle outside a Sydney hotel in 2005.
Right now I am just waiting on the legal documents they requested to arrive, Crocker said. I am hoping they will get here this week, so I can get it completed and sent off by Monday, so they can do their review. Once the work permit comes through I will book a flight and get over there. Hopefully I will be there in time to at least have a few hit-outs with the boys before the season starts.
-----------
this question from the UK visa application will be the curly one ...
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/tier2sportsperson.pdf
E3. Has the applicant ever been charged in any country with a criminal offence for which he/she has not yet been tried in court ?
If answered yes please give further details .
----------
given the British high commision's recent history of delaying and/or refusing work visa applications I wouldn't be holding my breath waiting for Greg Bird running onto the field with Bradford anytime soon .
