HK rugby stars deported
Hong Kong rugby internationals Wiremu Maunsell and Riaz Fredericks were deported last night after Immigration Department officials refused them re-entry at Kai Tak airport.
Hong Kong vice-captain Maunsell and Fredericks, both of whom played for Hong Kong at the Pacific Rim championship last season, returned from weekend holidays in the Philippines and Thailand respectively yesterday when they were stopped and questioned by immigration officials.
Maunsell, a New Zealand passport holder, and Fredericks, who has an Australian passport, arrived in Hong Kong in summer last year on tourist visas.
They had travelled in and out of Hong Kong many times.
A few months ago, both players applied for work visas. They were turned down by the Immigration Department.
Before Fredericks was deported, he spoke to the South China Morning Post from an airport telephone.
Fredericks, who also represented Hong Kong at the Rugby World Cup Sevens this year, said: 'I haven't done anything wrong and I don't know why I'm being sent back.
'I have done my utmost to develop and promote the game in Hong Kong and now this has happened.
'We failed to convince immigration officials. They interrogated us for a long time.
'Willy [Maunsell] has already been put on a plane. My flight is soon.' The pair were kept under lock and key before being sent back home on different flights.
Their tickets were paid for by friends in Hong Kong.
Allan Payne, executive director of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU), rushed to the airport when he heard of the players' plight.
He said: 'What has happened to them is deeply distressing and very sad. There was nothing we could do.' A close friend and fellow Hong Kong international, Gary Cross, laid the blame on the local rugby governing body.
'I hold the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union and its chairman Peter Duncan personally responsible for what has happened,' said Cross.
'The union had the chance to resolve the problem the overseas players are having with visas but they failed to address the issue and this is the outcome.' Cross, who also plays for and coaches First Division club DeA in the Hong Kong League, said at least another 20 leading players currently in Hong Kong were holding tourist visas - and potentially faced the threat of deportation.
'DeA will not play in the First Division again until this situation is resolved,' added Cross.
Since the game became professional two seasons ago, First Division clubs have been given free rein to go out and recruit players from overseas.
However, the HKRFU has distanced itself from professionalism.
It has said it is up to the clubs to sort out visa issues.
Last month, the five First Division clubs approached the HKRFU for financial assistance and help in smoothing out problems over visas.
