Leeds hit by visa delays

MacDonald, Gomez, Pala'amo and Fa'afili waiting for clearance

By Tony Curtis   Last updated: 19th August 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Leeds hit by visa delays

Fa'afili: Arrival delayed

We are hopeful of having all four players here in time for the start of the season on September 6 when we take on Newcastle.

Andy Key
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Leeds Carnegie's preparations for their return to the Guinness Premiership have been hit by news four players have been prevented from arriving at the club.

Complications with the visa application process means that USA international Mike MacDonald, Argentinean Juan Gomez and Samoan pair Fosi Pala'amo and Henry Fa'afili have been unable to team up with Leeds in pre-season.

And director of rugby Andy Key is hoping to have the quartet at Headingley in time for the start of the new season.

Key said: "The situation certainly is not ideal but we realise that we are not the only people affected by the new systems that have been put in place which are causing delays to the application process.

"We are hopeful of having all four players here in time for the start of the season on September 6 when we take on Newcastle.

"However, we go into this Saturday's final pre-season game without these four players but in a strong position after our first two warm up games.

"In the front row, Gareth Hardy has come in and added greatly to our presence in the set piece and we have got some exciting options in our backline.

"It will be a bonus when the four players arrive but we continue to move in the right direction."

Guinness Grand Final 2009/10 Win Outright: Leeds 1000/1