Keighley Cougars now have confirmation that their Australian prop forward Brendon Rawlins will be returning to Cougar Park for this season.

Rawlins went back to Australia in February to complete his visa arrangements but it wasnā€™t until yesterday that the process was completed, almost four months later.

The prop forward was originally refused sponsorship for a work permit by the RFL, but that decision was reversed following an appeal.

The UK Border Agency insisted that Brendon returned to Australia to complete his application.

Rawlins, who has not played Rugby League since last year, is now expected to rejoin the Cougars next week.

Helen Carter, the Keighley Cougars General Manager, said: ā€œIt has been a tortuous process which has been difficult for both the club and Brendon, and weā€™re still not quite sure why it has taken so long for the application to be completed.

ā€œWeā€™re grateful for the High Commission in Canberra for assisting us in freeing the log jam and look forward to Brendon returning to Cougar Park.ā€.

Barry Eaton, the Keighley Cougars Head Coach, said: ā€œHaving Brendon back in the first-team squad will step up the competition for places and, as Iā€™ve said before, thatā€™s no bad thing as far as any professional Rugby League club is concerned.

ā€œBrendon will be coming back to us at the business end of the season when we are trying to secure a place in the Co-operative Championship One play-offs but, first he will have to prove his general fitness standards are up to scratch before we can draft him into the sideā€.

This is a massive boost for both Brendon and the club and its great its sorted, how and why it took so long now irrelevant.

Good news, but I cant imagine how long it will take him to get match fit.

Wonderful news, even if it will possibly take him a while to get back to full fitness again

A couple of runouts in the reserves and then a first team outing against the Rams?

I didn't think he would be here this year!

For once I was wrong.

What is the world coming to?

Good luck to the lad.

He as been training in Australia with his old team whilst over there.

I never gave up hope on him playing this season.

And I am assuming this visa is for more than just the rest of this season? Because I would hate to think we've got to go through all this again next year!

Oh the irony of the advertisement below

I'm getting unsecured loans?