You can't de- and re-register an overseas player (without special dispensation a la Dobson), but if the passport came through, he wouldn't be an overseas player anymore. He'd still be overseas-trained, of course, which might well be an issue. Certainly I can't see him playing again on his current passport - eg if we released Clinton to Cronulla as the YP suggested the other day.

If there is no way back, then we have to accept that and act accordingly.

The RFL won't trust anything but a hard copy of the passport now - and fair play, they don't want to set a precedent of 'letters of support' counting. But I can't imagine they'd be obstructive either, huffy or not.

I'd take the HDM's assertion that mason wouldn't be allowed to be re-registered even if his passport does come with a pinch of salt, only last week they were telling everyone there was no way dobson could be re-registered unless mason's passport came and would have to sit on the sidelines when fit, then low and behold he plays!

Why anybody believes a word the HDM print is beyond me, time and time again they print 2nd hand rumour and speculation as "news" and in this case it certainly looks like they've made the "story" up.

Sorry MR, I think you're being naive on this. The RFL pulled unprecedented strings to accommodate Rovers' demands on Mason because it suited them and to have Mason playing was good for the British game. They did this based on now (futile) assurances from Rovers that all was in order and, prior to badgering from the Mail, from what they assumed to be behind closed doors. Unfortunately, things did go wrong, in a very public way and the RFL have yolk from a T-Rex-sized egg emerging from the bottom of their trousers.

So whilst I think that they were happy a couple of months ago to assure Rovers that all the necessary dispensations would be granted to re-register Dobson, I get the feeling the mood has well and truly shifted and Rovers are now "club non-grata".

Consider this statement from the RFL when asked for clarification on the Dobson re-registration process once the news was out and other clubs and fans were first cantering around on their high horses

Already, in direct contrast to this, they have allowed the re-registration of Dobson despite the non-arrival of the passport. More egg.

So to blithely assume that if Berrigan's Bitch finally does relent and retrieve the pesky passport from her knicker drawer the RFL will happily proceed to re-register Mason [iagain[/i is one hopeful assumption too many for the RFL, in my opinion.

Here's what they said when Dobbo was re-registeredAny application to re-register Willie Mason, subject to the player obtaining a Tongan passport, would require the full support of the RFL board of directors.'"

Thats one of the reasons i no longer purchase the HDM, i'd sooner buy the Beano or the Dandy, they are much better comics imo .

If you 'd have asked that same question 30 years ago you would have been pretty close regarding part two and three of the question (except, small tache and van dyk plus capri), however i was never into bikes or the apparel, i was more of a trendy seventies dresser ( flared trousers with big waist bands and 4"heeled shoes plus the long hair of course).
I hope my answer and portrayed image of yesteryear is to your satisfaction dear sir.

Groooovy!

Loving the shoes, I do hope that the trousers were beige and accompanied by a jacket with enormous lapels.



Roverswall is going to make me go on the naughty step for this.

Nah, lapels are to small, hair was much longer and i was far better looking. oh and you forgot the little van dyke.

One important point you neglect is that the assurances were not [ijust[/i from Rovers. Tonga has not found the transition towards democracy straight-forward, apparently.

Now we put ourselves at the mercy of an overseas government, so I'm not expecting any sympathy or indeed patience. I don't expect the rules to be interpreted generously (again) - but I do expect them to be interpeted fairly. The passport's no-show was beyond the club's control and despite assurances it would arrive. The fact it was needed at all is, with hindsight, a problem of our creation, but the RFL does not strike me as a vindictive organisation.

It is an administrative issue - Rovers need to find out what the positions of the RFL, WM and, as best they can, Tongan government are and act accordingly. There are whole spectrum of possibilities - fair enough I'm lining up some of the positive scenarios, but they seem no less realistic than the negative HDM orthodoxy (which seems to have changed, despite remaining resolutely gloomy, from 'he's gone', to 'he's staying, but can't be re-registered'... 'possibly...', 'we understand...').

The statement issued by the RFL upon Dobson re-registering specifically states that Mason would require the full support of the RFL board to be re-registered even [iwith[/i a Tongan passport. Granted their record of sticking to what they put out in their statements isn't exactly stellar...

Fair? You talk of fair? How fair to the rest of SL was this unashamed attempt to get an extra quota player on the books and hang the consequences?

The passport's no-show was beyond the club's control but the cynical decision to proceed anyway without it was purely within Hudge's control.

The RFL probably aren't vindictive but they are afraid of ridicule and embarrassment. They are the epitome of inconsistency as well. All I am saying is that it's my bet that Rovers' stock with them at the moment is about as valuable as that of a chicken carcass boiled for half a day to make potato soup.