I have similar concerns Mat but if anything Bird has been sacked by his club prior to the court case whereas Leon was not sacked despite being found guilty. Even if Bird's and Leon's situ was exactly the same are we saying that lads who've been convicted (and Bird hasn't) shouldn't be allowed to work again. If he's found not guilty then we must accept his inocence and if he's found guilty it's not our problem as he'll most likely go down.

What? How do you work that one out? What if he gets found guilty of say no more than the Australian equivalent of common assault, for example? I don't think you can say "most likely" at all.

[url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24925118-10389,00.htmlLink[/url.

How many Oz players have gone through the visa/w-p process in less than 10-12 weeks since the new processing came into operation half way through last season? None I am aware of.

If the nightclub assault case is still going ahead in mid March I assume he would have to appear at the case. Even if guilty he would be eligible to play in the UK.

the back end of march would be more likely and then back to Oz after around 2/3 games for the bigger trial.

If guilty on the 'actual bodily harm charge' (even if he is given comunity service) he will not play for you again. If he comes through okay then ready to go from May.

If he does not come you are no worse off. If he does you have a cracker.

He's been charged with reckless wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two charges of lying to police. The actual bodily harm is a fractured eye socket so how is he going to be found guilty of common assault?

It will be interesting to see how things go. He may well only play a year, most likely not even a full one in 09. But if he enjoys his rugby and settles in the team.. he may take up the remaining years. I expect he'll initially enjoy getting away from the higher media profile that he currently has in Aus.

A lot can happen in six months.. for the time being I just hope we see the international class player he can be whilst wearing a Bulls shirt this season.

A stopgap signing perhaps www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... ckyer.html

A stopgap signing perhaps www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... ckyer.html

but whose to say he didnt apply for a visa several months ago when he was first being linked with a move to SL? work permit he wont have been able to apply for till he knew which club he was going to but work permits generally dont take that long to process

Perhaps if he is convicted we could ask for him to be transported here !










(reconstruction)

disclaimer : any connection to any person living or dead for the above emoticon is purely coincidence.











But on a serious note if Bird is convicted of the charges he faces prison beckons as I suspect the Aussie criminal justice system is less supine than the one in the U.K.

And quite rightly so as DV has to be condemned wherever it occurs.

Dont worry,if he doesnt get his Visa he can always blame someone else.

Mick Gledhill will blame the ref.