Visa drama for Leinster

TWO players from Irish club Leinster, travelling to South Africa for their first PRO14 match in the country, were refused entry because they did not have the required visa, the club said yesterday.

Leinster captain Isa Nacewa and scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park were both sent home on arrival on Wednesday because they did not have the visa, which South Africa has required of New Zealand citizens since January.

“It was only brought to our attention upon landing into Johannesburg on Wednesday morning that this was now a requirement,” said the club’s Head of Rugby Operations Guy Easterby.

“This was clearly an administrative oversight on our part and a valuable lesson has been learned.”

Leinster will compete in the first PRO14 match in South Africa when they meet the Southern Kings at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth tomorrow.

Later tomorrow, the Cheetahs host Zebre of Italy in Bloemfontein in their first home match.

Leinster face the Cheetahs on September 22. – Reuters