Slightly OT as someone who is about to apply for my ESTA just wondering why you would apply more than three months in advance when The maximum time taken for the processing of your application is 72 hours from the time of payment ?

Your choice of course just wondering why you would waste 3+ months of a two year visa waiver.

How many more times. If there is no criminal record, or if the record was incurred under age 18, there is no problem with Canadian immigration (as all the experts on here have repeatedly explained).

If there is a criminal record, and if the person needs to send for or find and file paperwork to show they've been discharged or whatever, then it can take a long time. Players need to expect this to be the case - whether its the RFL or the club's responsibility isn't my concern.

It's not random, it's not Canadian immigration being moody, and if Air Transat allow a passenger to board who is subsequently refused admission at the border, then the airline bears the cost of returning him to the UK.

It’s mostly just me being cautious in case there was an issue. I get everything sorted as soon as I can and I’m unlikely to go back again within 2 years anyway.

Probably every time you park your canoe.

Granted, some clubs will be more inefficient on the admin. side than others. Then again, some of the 'inefficient' clubs may only have one admin. staff member, who could well be doubling/trebling up on jobs.

However, let's say, for example, a club has 25 players in their squad, when the fixtures are announced. Yes, they should sort out the visas there and then. Problems arise, when injuries and suspensions take their toll. This situation (with injuries) bites as the season wears on and suddenly, the club is scrabbling around for players - often on loan from SL clubs. A club can often be in that situation, just a week before travelling to Toronto, and then there will be a timing issue.

If only the initial squad of 25, even assuming they qualify for a visa, is fully available in the week of a visit to Toronto!

The RFL need to centrally handle these from next season as the governing body of the sport. As soon as November arrives, they should ensure that all players from every single club across the sport is eligible to travel to Toronto by making sure all visas are applied for and sorted. There can be no issues once the new season starts in February then.

As it stands Toronto will have home fixtures of Hull KR, Fev, Widnes and Toulouse. What's the bets the Toulouse game will be at a neutral venue in the UK? I suspect their schedule will be: AWAY, HOME (NEUTRAL), AWAY, (all played in UK) then 3 home games (which will also allow teams to get Visa's processed etc)

Fev would have the unfortunate position of away games to Toulouse and Toronto.

Last month, Barrow tapped amateur player Ben Garner for the Toronto trip on the Tuesday. He was on the plane on the Thursday. If a club is scrabbling round for players at the last minute, the first things to ask are, do you have a clean sheet and a valid passport?

Agreed, would be great if all clubs were at full strength.

So let me get this straight. You think Leigh, Widnes and Salford are on a footing with Rovers financially?

Just for a second, let’s forget about wealthy backers etc. Rovers are one of the best run clubs in the league at the moment from a financial point of view. We’ve a decent average attendance of around 7,500 (very good considering our league position this year) and are able to put big events on at Craven Park i.e the little mix gig on Friday evening were over 23,000 people attended.

So I’d be interested to hear your argument against this.

Far be it for me to agree with a Rovers fan, but he's absolutely right. They have a history of being well supported, even when they spent time in the lower division. They regularly outnumber certain Superleague teams in regard to attendances so to compare them to the clubs mentioned is just foolish.

Quote: pandamonium "What's the source for your suspicion of the schedule? We're expecting 2A, 2H, 1A, 2H. The bottom six SL teams have been apparent for a few weeks now. They should have already applied for visas for any players that require longer processing time.'" https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/07/17/s ... ssion=true

Quote: pandamonium "What's the source for your suspicion of the schedule? We're expecting 2A, 2H, 1A, 2H. The bottom six SL teams have been apparent for a few weeks now. They should have already applied for visas for any players that require longer processing time.'" https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/07/17/s ... ssion=true

So, if Toronto or/and Toulouse finish the Middle 8’s in a promotion position and the Super League clubs vote not to allow them membership, would the team/teams in the position/positions directly below them automatically get their SuperLeague place as they are full members?

Without knowing the structure for 2019 that's unanswerable at present.