Soni Radovanovic

[roughyedspud]

bollocks..i thought the RFL encouraged clubs to look at players from the lesser nations,even going as far as to not include them on the overseas quota?

RFL put brakes on Serb trialist

By Martin Morgan
Last updated 11:27, Thursday, 08 January 2009
WHITEHAVEN’S bid to secure Serbian Soni Radovanovic on trial has hit a major snag after the RFL indicated they would not register him.
The prop/second-row, man-of-the-match in Serbia’s narrow defeat against Lebanon in Beirut in October, had been due to land in England on Monday for a three-week trial at the Recre.
But he apparently fails to qualify for a work permit and the Red Hall will not register him, making it impossible for the youngster to turn out for the Cumbrians, even in a friendly.
“He can come in to the country, but we can’t register him, which obviously means we can’t play him,” said coach Ged Stokes. “He can’t even train with us as he wouldn’t be insured.”
Stokes spotted Radovanovic’s potential in the Euro-Med clash last year. The Kiwi coached the Serbs for the first time against Lebanon and plans to lead their national team in future internationals, as long as it does not interfere with his Haven commitments.
“I think it would benefit everyone if he could come here,” added Stokes. “It would be good for international relations and fantastic for Serbian rugby league.”
Stokes has not given up hope and is talking to Kevin Rudd, of the European Federation, to see if he can help, though the timetable is tight.
“He’s supposed to land on the 12th, and there’s an awful lot of groundwork to do to get him here for that date,” the coach added.

 

[roopy]

Hopefully just teething problems and things like this can happen in the future.

If Australia can find a way to get the Fijian playing in country teams in the lead up to the WC - even if they had to get out the minute the WC was over - the English should be able to work out something for european players.

 

[roughyedspud]

i think the problem is he's serbian..which is in europe...but not the EU

if he was german,french,greek even croatian he would'nt need a work visa

 

[Evil Homer]

Yeah, Serbia is not in the EU yet so Serbian athletes often have these types of problems. Hopefully the RFL will see sense and sort the whole thing out.

 

[roughyedspud]

hopefully maurice watkins,a Non-Executive Director of the RFL, will have a word with his other employers,manchester united,cos they've just had 2 serbian sign with united after abit of trouble getting them visas..

 

[jvujosevic]

i think the problem is he's serbian..which is in europe...but not the EU

if he was german,french,greek even croatian he would'nt need a work visa

Croatia isn't in EU...

 

[jvujosevic]

Yeah, Serbia is not in the EU yet so Serbian athletes often have these types of problems. Hopefully the RFL will see sense and sort the whole thing out.

Yes, and now we all hope that Soni will go to UK...

 

[Tigers_are_Pro]

Serbia is the most awesome country in the world dude. They are above the EU.

 

[roughyedspud]

Croatia isn't in EU...

nah you're right...but they'll be in the EU next year

 

[roughyedspud]

Serbia is the most awesome country in the world dude. They are above the EU.

jog on back the the wests board and leave this discussion for the adults..

 

[deluded pom?]

Serbia is the most awesome country in the world dude. They are above the EU.

Which one do you reckon he is? Bill or Ted?

 

[Evil Homer]

Soni's issues have been sorted now and he will make his debut a week on Sunday in a trial match v Bradford. http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyle...Y_NAME=rleague/09/01/20/RUGBYL_Radonovic.html

 

[roughyedspud]

fantastic news, if the games at bradford i might go

 

[ali]

Excellent stuff!

How good are the English lower divisions this season for international players!

 

[Evil Homer]

Excellent stuff!

How good are the English lower divisions this season for international players!

Didn't Skolars announce the other week that they'd signed a Polish player who had to learn English as well as RL?

 

[roughyedspud]

i think i met this polish player in london during the challenge cup last year,druzik knows him i think?


as for soni,he won't be in the championship for long trust me,he's a class act and with the benefit of full time training and good coaching he could make super league..

 

[deluded pom?]

Excellent stuff!

How good are the English lower divisions this season for international players!

That's not an offer to create a list of the various nationalities plying their trade in NL1 and NL2 is it ali? ;-)

 

[ali]

Hmmm, well I'll give you a quick run down.

We've got 3 genuine Papuans at Hunslet, 2 at Sheffield (I think one is Aus raised) and 1 at Celtic in Super League. Plus the 2 (?) Fijians at Barrow, The Serb at Whitehaven, A Scotsman at Workington (?) and Wayne Kerr from Ireland at Oldham, not to mention Toulouse being in the Championship.

There is also no shortage of players aligned to developing nations who may have learnt the game in Aus or NZ. We have aus raised Fijian Puna Rausanbale at Gateshead, Storer and Ropati at Sheffield (who I assume did not learn their RL in their respective nations).,

Hopefully there is more I've forgotten about.

One negative about the recent changes to visa laws is the end of the South Africans at Skolars. So far this year there is no sign of Rubert Jonker or Richard Lowe, though I know Lowe went home last year as his wife was pregnant.

 

[nadera78]

Didn't Skolars announce the other week that they'd signed a Polish player who had to learn English as well as RL?

Obuchowski? I think that was his name. Only a youngster too.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Great news, lets hope other clubs follow and we see plenty more emerging nation players running around in Pro/Semi Pro comps.