Overseas signings tied up in red tape

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Four international-class overseas players are among those prevented from joining their new British clubs by visa problems.

New Zealand's World Cup-winning forward Greg Eastwood has not been able to join Leeds yet and the Rhinos fear that he will not be on their pre-season trip to Florida. His fellow countryman Tony Puletua has not yet arrived at St Helens, while two high-profile Australians have also been caught up in the red tape. Hull are still waiting for the State of Origin forward, Michael Crocker, and Huddersfield fear that Todd Carney will not arrive in time for the start of the Super League season next month.

His team-mates at the New Zealand Warriors were still refusing to accept yesterday that Sonny Fai had been swept to his death on a beach near Auckland. The 20-year-old forward prospect is thought to have drowned saving his younger brother in rough seas, but the Warriors abandoned their training session to continue the search for him.

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