Forced out: Hendre Fourie
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Former England flanker Hendre Fourie has revealed his disappointment at not being able to stay in Britain after his work visa was cancelled.
South African-born Fourie's contract with Sale was cancelled last week after a shoulder injury forced him to retire. And now that he is not playing professionally, he cannot get a visa to remain in England.
The 33-year-old, has been playing in England for eight years and has a son who was born in the country during that period.
Fourie - who represented England in eight Tests - played for Rotherham and Leeds before moving to Sale last season but only made three appearances for the club due to his shoulder injury.
He admitted there is little choice for him other than to return to South Africa.
"I can play for England but I can't get a passport to stay in the country," Fourie told The Times. "If I had remained on a sports people visa for another two years, I would have got residency, but unless someone is willing to give me another contract, that is not going to happen.
"My wife (Corlia) is South African, but my boy was born here and I would like to have stayed here and tried to get a teaching job. There were options to appeal but I would have had to wait another few years before I could get my permanent residency.
"It has been a red-tape nightmare and we just decided it was not worth all the hassle.
"That's the amazing thing, I am not able to claim any benefits in this country. I have always paid my taxes, have represented England, but I have to leave while you hear how they protect the rights of terrorists."
Comments
jmckenna92 says...
used and abused, typical enough of the system in England
Posted 13:38 07th January 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
Agree with you Rammage, I think message board anonimity has unleashed the right wing extremism in a few posters.
As far as Hendre Fourie goes, its a shame his career is now over, but I wish him all the best. On an impersonal note I was never an advocate of him playing for England because he never really seemed to bring enough to the party, a bit like Thomas Waldrom and Brad Barritt! At least Manu Tuilagi earns his england place with match winning performances. Glad to see Tom Wood fit and playing well for his club, he's the future.
Posted 13:20 07th January 2013
new_j4a says...
@ferdie, you may have missed the point. He didn't just go to the UK and play professional rugby.....he played for England!!!! Read it again and have a think
Posted 13:13 07th January 2013
bad_robot says...
The obvious problem here is that he is allowed to play for a country where he is not a citizen. Surely the first step of pledging your allegiance to play for a country is to become a citizen of said country? Whether you have to jump through all the hoops that 'regular' folk would, is a completely separate question for each individual country. The IRB should be taking note and making that a criteria.
Posted 13:04 07th January 2013
APV1 says...
@ new_j4a et al - Iyhel's right - it took Joanna Lumley to get the Gurkhas residency and citizenship and they fought in the British Army! What chance of politicians getting involved, when there's no percieved benefit?
I still think it's a shame, especially for Fourie Jr, who will have to share a country with some of the trolls on here. Let's hope the overwhelming majority of top-bloke Saffas dilute the nobs enough so that he's not corrupted by their nonsense.
@ ferdie - I suspect the terrorist bit is about Abu Hamza, Abu Qatada and others. I don't know for sure, but it could make sense.
@ lawynd - a good point about him applying for a passport already. I suppose if he was keen, he could have done it years ago.
Posted 12:49 07th January 2013
myhatmycoat says...
If it wasn't for the fact that there are people involved in this - this situation is absolutely laughable.... and I have sympathy for the player concerned and his family.
Some years ago - there was a debate here on this issue - and it begs the question - How can you represent a country - when you do not have a permanent right to live there ?
Set aside the issues of you lived there illegally as an over-stayer - and then by some miracle - on appeal the UK allowed you to stay - and hey look - you now play for England !
Some countries in the SH get slated for the use of players born in other pacific nations - or of pacific descent - but I guarantee you - they all have a permanent right to live in the countries they play for.
The BIA UK permanent residency requirements (having been through this) are 5 years - on one particular visa. I know this - because I had 1 visa, and then changed to another visa - and as a result - although having been here 3 years at the time - the clock was reset. I then waited a further 4 years to get permanent residency, and another 12 months to qualify to become a citizen.
It would appear that there has been a visa change at some point, and therefore the clock got reset - and therefore the 5 years started again.
I'm wondering who will be next..... Waldrom ? Tuilagi ? Vunipola ? Botha ? There are too many options to mention..........
It's madness that this happened in the first place - and the RFU needs to re-visit the selection policy !
Posted 12:30 07th January 2013
BokAvenger says...
@NorthandSouth So calling someone a Pom is racist now? Where are you when South Africans are routinely called yarpies [sic], dodgy dutch farmers and other expletives on this site?
Posted 11:55 07th January 2013
Ramage says...
Arent there some very unpleasant people in this world.
Posted 11:33 07th January 2013
lorenz78 says...
Sad and ridiculous.
As in Italy we have a fair amount of imports playing in the national team, plus an awful law about immigration, I am afraid that after their playing careers finish several capped players may be illegal in the country
Posted 11:28 07th January 2013
Iyhel says...
Crazy story. Shouldn't nationality be granted more or less automatically once you're selected for a national team?!
But no real surprise there, worse things have happenned to soldiers who gave their blood for another country...
Posted 11:13 07th January 2013
APV1 says...
An absolute disgrace!
sirtidychris has hit the nail on the head.
Posted 10:58 07th January 2013
northandsouth says...
That really sucks, but leave off the racism BokAvenger - there are stupid people and silly bureaucracies in every country. Fourie spoils it a bit with the childish terrorist reference, but he's definitely been wronged and someone with a bit of common sense should step up and let him stay
Posted 10:57 07th January 2013
cuw3100 says...
here is one for all the posters. Now that he is not British can he play for South Africa??? (lets assume he is fit to play)
Posted 10:38 07th January 2013
bok120592 says...
Once again the UK's red tape system proving itself to be shocking. An England International is forced out, while convicted terrorists aloud to stay? laughable. Good luck to Hendre and his family, wherever they end up.
Posted 10:37 07th January 2013
lawynd says...
Why should playing a representative sport automatically guarantee you a right to abode in a country when your playing days are done? If he was that keen on staying in the UK he would have applied for a passport already.
Posted 10:35 07th January 2013
daibok says...
A shame for Fourie but it says a lot about 'English' players and (true) English player development. Nick Easter made a very good point about this and what goes on in yesterday's Times.
Posted 10:01 07th January 2013
zambokke says...
If he isn't English, then how was he legible to play for them? Don't you have to be a citizen? Remember the problems for Mujati and Beast?
Posted 09:47 07th January 2013
jimter says...
he has been treated really badly, and i didn't realise we kicked anyone out any more. however, what does it say for england's selection policy when former players can get deported?
Posted 09:47 07th January 2013
ferdie says...
Would the same not also apply to every player who does not meet the residency requirements, finish playing and bye-bye. eg even someone like Thomas Waldrom who qualified via a grandparent, and can therefore be granted a passport, would not be automatically eligible for residency? There is a process.
And not England-specific either. One example would be Quade Cooper who is in Australia, like many NZers, on a Special Circumstances Visa which is granted to NZers who move there. They pay taxes etc but are not eligible for any benefits, as per Fourie above, they are classed as 'non-citizens' which is correct, holding neither passport nor residency/citizenship.
I fail to see why playing professional rugby should give special privileges re residency. He mentions getting a teaching job - then why not, and the work permit/visa that goes with it?
As for the 'protect the rights of terrorists' statement, well,what an fool he is.
What relevance, or truth, just a cry-baby!
Posted 09:38 07th January 2013
new_j4a says...
Apologies for the embarrassing response from the Saffas here....but you know them of old....crawled out from the very shallow end of the gene pool.
I am horrified that a person can represent the country and then get thrown out when injured...I encourage all right thinking Brits to write to their MP.....anyone know how to get a web petition started? Facebook?
Posted 09:31 07th January 2013