It was about a year. Slightly more perhaps.

Wouldn't have thought it would be an issue then

2015 I think for Toovey.

Just looking through the application to become a sponsor (i.e. for the club to be able to apply for a visa for someone they must be a listed sponsor)

Just checked the register of sponsors and Bradford Bulls 2017 is on there Not sure when we went on. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... onsors.pdf So we’re just waiting for the Home Office to process the visa, assuming it is submitted – they must be satisfied with our banking arrangements for us to be a sponsor. That’s good enough for me – for now!

Just checked the register of sponsors and Bradford Bulls 2017 is on there Not sure when we went on. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... onsors.pdf So we’re just waiting for the Home Office to process the visa, assuming it is submitted – they must be satisfied with our banking arrangements for us to be a sponsor. That’s good enough for me – for now!

Some serious investigation work carried out today, well done Bullseye!

Quote Bullseye="Bullseye"Just checked the register of sponsors and Bradford Bulls 2017 is on there Not sure when we went on. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... onsors.pdf So we’re just waiting for the Home Office to process the visa, assuming it is submitted – they must be satisfied with our banking arrangements for us to be a sponsor. That’s good enough for me – for now!'" I notice we are only listed for Tier 5 though - so does that mean Toovey can only apply as a temporary worker and not a coach? Whereas St Helens for example are Tier 2 - Sport

Quote Bullseye="Bullseye"Just checked the register of sponsors and Bradford Bulls 2017 is on there Not sure when we went on. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... onsors.pdf So we’re just waiting for the Home Office to process the visa, assuming it is submitted – they must be satisfied with our banking arrangements for us to be a sponsor. That’s good enough for me – for now!'" I notice we are only listed for Tier 5 though - so does that mean Toovey can only apply as a temporary worker and not a coach? Whereas St Helens for example are Tier 2 - Sport

Thanks for the research Bullseye.Here's the extract from the tier 5 regulations . As at today's date the 2017 Bulls have a tier 5 license but I cannot find when it wasgranted - could have been very recently. If , as theBulls implied, that was in place by early April , it's a mystery why it is taking so long. Unless an NRL Grand Final coach is not classed as a very highly skilled person or the RFL have not endorsed the application!


Creative and Sporting
The creative and sporting worker category is for a small number of very highly skilled people coming to the UK to work or perform as sportspeople, entertainers or creative artists.

In order to apply under this category you must have a valid Tier 5 certificate of sponsorship from a licensed Tier 5 sponsor. Your sponsor must have an endorsement for you from the governing body for your sport, which confirms you meet the governing body's requirements to give their endorsement. The governing body must be recognised by the UK Home Office.

Length of stay
Usually until one month after the period of work stated on your certificate of sponsorship, and up to 2 years with extensions.

Sportspeople can extend their visa upto a maximum stay of 12 months, while creative workers can extend their visa upto a maximum stay of 24 months.

Way tier 5 description reads sounds like that applies for actual players, but maybe not coaches/managers. Whats the description for tier 2?. maybe we've been granted our tier 5 license, hence us being able to apply and be rejected for phoenix but are still waiting on the tier 2 needed for Toovey.

Being us, I expect it'll all end in Tiers

seems to me it's like this, if we stay up he's our coach, if we go down he's gone..

Where's he going to be 'gone' to, though?

He's not had a job in the NRL for a year or so and presumably, since he's here in the Championship and has no visa, we're free to assume he's had no offers from SL either, even though there have been vacancies. This suggests to me that his name isn't exactly on the lips of lots of clubs, (big or otherwise).

Geoff may well be the coach who leads us back to SL and to Grand Final glory and then stays for ten years to be our best coach ever. I really don't know, I can no more look into the future than anyone else, but if that is to be the case then, there are very few signs about.