I can't say I'm thrilled. Yes he was last year's Man of Steel but he's too individual for me and he could be a bad influence. I would have much preferred Daniel Holdsworth from Salford.

The fact that he got a visa and was admitted to the UK after the conviction suggests to me that the visa issue is being overplayed. Of course it could be a problem, but I'd be surprised given the precedents. Greg Bird was admitted to the UK every other week with a conviction a few years back, and Rangi can change his visa here, he doesn't have to go outside the country

I thought he was convicted, but then later acquitted?

He was convicted at the end of April 2009 (and obviously later acquitted) but his visa was rejected back in February 2009.
They had to let him in the country every other week as he gained a French visa.

Re Chase, while the incident occurred before he joined Cas he wasn't convicted until last year, so it could well affect any new visa application. Obviously I'm no expert, but given the examples mentioned already plus a few others I'd be surprised if it's not a factor in his visa decision even if he still gets one.

Surely you need a passport or citizen status to play for England and not just a working visa?

Nope, the rules areEligibility for International Rugby League 
      3.1   A player is eligible to play an International Match for
From the RLIF website

As an Aussie he needed UKBA permission to enter under the immigration rules, regardless of the French visa and if he was denied the visa in the first place because of the charge, then after conviction it's arguable he shouldn't have been admitted at all.


He's already been admitted to the UK since the conviction so UKBA have effectively said its ok. It will certainly be a factor in any application, but its anyone's guess as to what's going on.

No idea at all about visas but will the fact he's got a child over here work in his favour? I imagine it would but like I say haven't a clue about them.

Boom!

Surely at least one of those would give him a British passport. If he's not got a British passport then letting him play for us is madness. I'm okay with adopted citizens playing for a UK team but surely you'd have to have passport. What kind of crazy employment system are we running here where he can play for England but then needs a visa to work here?

Well the only that applies to him is "c" and "d". I don't know if living here for 3 years is enough to get a passport, and the GBH conviction wouldn't help him gain a British passport either.
Well because the eligibility rules for international rugby league are different to the rules necessary to be a UK citizen.

Manu Tuilagi also seemed to have a bit of a Visa issue before he made his debut for England RU IIRC.

Also worth noting Grant Millington has said Chase has been training "really hard" all week with Cas.