Fourie gets visa reprieve
9 Jan 2013
Former England flank Hendre Fourie has been told by immigration officials that he does not have to leave Britain.
According to The Telegraph, officials from the UK Border Agency contacted Fourie on Tuesday after he revealed he was moving back to South Africa because he thought his working visa had been terminated by the Sale Sharks on his enforced retirement.
Fourie, who played eight Tests for England, believed he had only 60 days from the moment Sale informed the Border Agency in December that his employment had been terminated. But the agency told him on Tuesday that the process had not been started. It also discussed options that would enable him to remain in the UK.
‘We have not curtailed Mr Fourie’s visa at this time and he is not required to leave the UK,’ a UK Border Agency spokesman said. ‘His employment contract with Sale Rugby Club has been terminated and his employer has rightly informed UKBA of this decision. We are considering what action to take next.
‘If an individual’s circumstances change and they no longer meet the terms of their specific visa they can apply for a visa of a different type. Mr Fourie has been informed of the process and the various options available to him. It is entirely up to him if he chooses to explore any of them further.’

7 Comments
9 Jan 2013, 09:12 am
Who must feel like a dragon **** now for the terrorist comments now?
9 Jan 2013, 09:20 am
good to see common sense prevail…
9 Jan 2013, 09:28 am
good for them, not all heartless and coldly bureaucratic.
9 Jan 2013, 10:18 am
All I can say is the player support provided by Sale Sharks sucks big time.
How do they allow one of their contracted players to depart the club due to injury with the notion they have no options other than to quit the country.
9 Jan 2013, 10:50 am
Very good news, some justice 4 Hendre
Well done to Brian Moore for speaking up on it too, he was the only one who I saw that did.
9 Jan 2013, 13:19 pm
Will Carling also mentioned this on his twitter feed.
9 Jan 2013, 19:26 pm
@Brads-4:
Normally companies sponsoring workers on work permits are legally obliged to inform the immgration department in the worker is not employed by them anymore
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