Nine posted:
Whatever the rights and wrongs of all the above, Hansen is a British citizen and therefore has exactly the same legal status as e.g. Fielden or O'Loughlin. Kolpak has nothing to do with it in his case.
No but the fact is the RFL is trying to limit overseas players with EC passports as well i.e. its not just targeting Kolpak players.
I think that, as happened before when you discussed his status, there are two issues getting muddled up in people's minds.
1. His nationalities. He is a British subject. He has exactly the same rights as the rest of us. He is also a New Zealand citizen - again, with the same rights as other Kiwis. It's not uncommon for people to be in that position.
In terms of employment Pat Richards also has the same rights as the rest of us as he holds an EC passport however he would be counted as an overseas player user the proposed rules.
He has and Aussie and an EC passport. Hansen has a Kiwi one and an EC passport. What is the difference? I can't see any in that both can work here based on their holding an EC passport.
2. His ethnicity. He is of Polynesian descent. I am not certain of what kind. If Maori, Kolpak is again irrelevant as their origin is NZ, which is not included in that agreement. If "Islander" (e.g. Samoan or Tongan), then in theory he could possibly claim a passport based in that nationality. But as he's alreday British that wouldn't benefit him particularly in terms of what is being discussed here.
I don't think any of that is relevant because the RFL it isn't just trying to limit Kolpak players but players with EC passports as well who are overseas players.
His decision has been to play for New Zealand. But as British citizen the only way he could legally be treated as an overaseas player would be if the RFL were to change the rules so that GB-qualified players who opt to play for another country are treated as such. So far, the RFL hasn't. And as, on top of everything else, the lad is a product of Wigan's own junior set-up I don't think they should.
Given they want to limit the likes of Richards they clearly are intent on changing the rules. The interesting thing is how the rule change will affect Hansen. I can't see how they can say a player like Richards is a quota player and Hansen is not when the latter represents NZ.
Frankly, I don't think it's worth getting too worried about - there really aren't too many players around who are brought up over here from a young child, are a product of a GB club, have a GB passport, but have a place of birth and family background that means they opt to play for another country.
Well the whole point of the rule change is that there are more players playing the game in the UK who are eligible for England and GB and Hansen is not.
Despite all his GB credentials from a nationality point of view from a playing point of view he is the sort of player the game wants to limit.
So as I said it will be interesting to see how they deal with his situation as it
is pretty unique.
I think what may happen is as they did with the residency rule and players already playing here won't be affected, but if he is affected then Wigan have a decision to make.
Dave
