RUGBY : Wakefield have given New Zealand-born prop James Stosic until the end of the month to acquire a Macedonian passport or be released.
Wakefield have given New Zealand-born prop James Stosic until the end of the month to acquire a Macedonian passport or be released.
The Wildcats signed the former Gold Coast and Cronulla forward as an overseas player for 2009 but were hoping to get him off the foreign quota for next season.
The club say they signed Stosic, who is of Macedonian descent, on the understanding he would have a European passport by the second half of his two-year deal.
Wildcats coach John Kear said: “When James joined the club it was quite clear that he had to have a passport that would remove him from the existing quota limitations.
“So far that has not happened and, if he doesn’t succeed by the end of the month, we will have to release him.
“Our overseas quota positions are already filled by Darryl Millard, Ben Jeffries, Glenn Morrison, Shane Tronc and Sam Obst, so we do not have any more places available.
“There are no problems between the club and James as we both knew what was required for him to remain with the club.
“We would like to keep James but, if he can’t get his passport, then the matter is out of our hands.”
