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
StunTheMullet says...
@ Iyhel "Crazy story. Shouldn't nationality be granted more or less automatically once you're selected for a national team?!"
Oh yes, import 22 All Blacks select them for England and then declare them English citizens.
Problem solved.....
Posted 20:24 07th January 2013
pete4monc says...
Forget all this rubbish about he said this and she said that...you are missing the point !!
How can a foreign player who doesn't even have the right to even live in the country be allowed to play for England above another Englishman??
Why when the IRB or government have used that player to play for their chosen country ,then dismisses him/her when they are injured and can't play anymore ??
All smacks of money and corruption at the highest level in England !!
Posted 19:48 07th January 2013
JayStarr says...
Hahahahahaha ! That's what happens if you're not a citizen of a country. Just shows how farcical it was that he played for England...
Posted 19:25 07th January 2013
liam2me says...
Horrible situation for the individual concerned, but a further embarrassment for Team England that an 'English' player has to be deported!!!
Posted 19:08 07th January 2013
leebok says...
Bizzarre, just proves you dont need to be English to play for England. I would have thought you would need an English passport before you can play for England, Clearly not. So how did he qualify to play for England?
Posted 18:26 07th January 2013
philipjfry says...
@APV1: I can recall one incident where someone referred to Justin Downey (flanker for Cheetahs in SR) as a 'dodgy Dutch farmer' after he grabbed another player's kerbangers in a ruck. At the time, I took this to be an accurate analysis. Calling Afrikaners 'Dutchman' is mildly insulting. I find the term 'Saffa' more offensive to be perfectly honest.
Posted 18:25 07th January 2013
davodiablo says...
@TVaddict. Hit it on the nail !
Posted 17:37 07th January 2013
new_j4a says...
@butl Please let me know when you get your idea sorted. I have my citizenship sorted, and would very much like to have an England Cap....Rugby Union if possible please
Posted 17:26 07th January 2013
ChrisInCrete says...
Following on from several good points below:
The RFU should have thought this through from the start. They should have ensured that everything was OK towards nationality or they should have clearly explained the implications of what might happen including this worse case (not a scenario now).
So either let the ¿imports¿ know exactly where they stand at the start or make it much more simple, clear and logical: no selection without nationality.
Taking nationality is the real statement of commitment.
I do not think that giving nationality for being selected in rugby would be correct. Fighting for that country is another matter.
On this particular case I do think it is harsh and I think that if he could get a job lined up (teaching/coaching), he should have leave to remain.
Posted 17:19 07th January 2013
NHsaints says...
@gazzabok that's a little extreme...are you suggesting the beast should be kicked out of SA and exiled from his home country when his playing days are over? This is an unfortunate case and I do agree it is ridiculous that someone who has lived here for 5+ years and payed taxes for his entire stay should not be elligible to live here. As for the part about playing for England...I do think you should be elligible for UK residency before you can play for England Ireland Wales Scotland ect. That would make the most sense as an international call up requirement...that you are elligible to live here permanently.
Posted 17:16 07th January 2013
APV1 says...
@ dezz - I think I know what you mean, but I'm not sure how the colour of a person's skin is relevant. By bringing colour into it, you're just perpetuating the racism we're all so keen to wipe out.
I'm not entirely sure how a person votes affects this either, unless you've voted for one of the more extreme parties.
@ TVaddict - some interesting points, many of which I agree with. Wonder how the Leveson recommendations will be "interpreted"...
And since when did common sense and law ever correlate? I think that if you've represented a country you should be eligible for residency. But I also think you should be eligible for a passport before you represent them.
Posted 17:05 07th January 2013
kinsman says...
@APV1 - I don't think sharing a country with some of the trolls on here is really a problem for him after all, he's publicly expressing a wish to do so. Let's hope the overwhelming majority of top-bloke Poms dilute the nobs enough so that he's not corrupted by their nonsense.
also, if one of gungehammers friends represented the UK in the world rock, paper scissors championship, should they then have the right to a passport?
Posted 17:00 07th January 2013
APV1 says...
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?
When? I've seen people from SA referred to as Saffas, but not the other names. And certainly not as a matter of routine - I can't recall a single example. Point me in the direction of those, if you'd be so kind. Otherwise your rant is xenophobic, at least. How? By blaming all Poms for some misperception you keep banging on about.
@ rugby_rockstar - whilst I agree with you on one level, I don't think eligibility should be based on performance or success. Nice thought though.
@ gungehammer - did any of your friends represent the UK or any of the Home Nations? Or were they here working and, as such, any representation was of their employer, not the country?
@ butl - nicely put. But that's one for the IRB.
Posted 16:13 07th January 2013
Chubbylugs says...
How long has he been resident in the uk? It strikes me as a bit silly of mr fourie to assume that you can legally reside without a British passport or leave to remain. The fact he played for England really is a side issue. I he really wanted a passport he would have got one after 4-5 years. This is a convenient way to blame someone else. I have south frican friends that are now uk passport holders because they followed the right route
On a side issue, surely passport status must be a criteria for playing as well as 3 year residency?
Posted 15:48 07th January 2013
TVaddict says...
Firstly, you hear about them "protect the rights of terrorists" because the media in this country is both racist and lie more than they tell the truth. This then helps to reinforce racist views in this country (I find it amazing how many racists still exist in this country, you'd think their ignorance would lead them to die off faster than they are. Pity.). Until we start handing our proper punishments to media sources that lie we basically can't accept anything they say. They are such a cancer on society. Oh, also this country will continue to decline until everyone who is responsible for papers like the Sun and the Daily Mail are burnt with the lies they print (I might mean this metaphorically).
Secondly, it is disgraceful that people shed blood for our country and don't get residency. If that isn't happening consistently then what hope do sportsmen have! However, he should obviously be allowed to stay after legally being here for eight years, regardless of what job he's done.
Thirdly, this whole thing stinks of him dropping the ball (Ha, pun!). With eight years in the country he's had plenty of time to organise residency through various means. Now he's gone public with the whole thing he'll probably be treated specially and it'll all be fine. Let's get him trained as a rugby coach or P.E. teacher and get him training the next generation.
Posted 15:28 07th January 2013
Iyhel says...
@butl : yeah, sure, so puzzled by the case that I lost my logic!
Knowing that the process can be very, very, very long, maybe there should be a clause like, to play for a country, you must (on top of the residency rule) have at least applied for citizenship?
Posted 15:08 07th January 2013
dezz says...
You get what you vote for. Traitorous main parties. Can't deport immigrant scumbags because they have children or its against their human rights. Can deport a white couple who had a child in Britain, who represented a UK country, who paid taxes. If you vote any of the main parties hang your heads in shame.
Posted 14:05 07th January 2013
PREEST says...
Why did he want to represent England and not SA anyway...? That would be like me (a kiwi) playing for Australia. Mind you a lot of Kiwis end up playing for Australia these days. CQ, Digbi, Harris etc.
Posted 13:46 07th January 2013
butl says...
Lyhel said; "Crazy story. Shouldn't nationality be granted more or less automatically once you're selected for a national team?!"
Shouldn't that be the other way round?
Posted 13:41 07th January 2013
gungehammer says...
As an kiwi living in the UK, I've seen many friends who paid taxes and didn't claim anything leave the country due to changes in work circumstances and being unable to get a visa. It happens all the time with less fanfare.
I think this just points out the need to change the rules for eligibility - no passport / right to abide no play, not the other way around.
Posted 13:38 07th January 2013