A HUDDERSFIELD Giants star has been banned from playing for the club - on the eve of their first game of the new rugby league season.
Australian Heath Cruckshank's bid for a work permit has been thrown out by the Home Office. It means Cruckshank's career in England is over and he must return to Australia in the hope of finding another club.
A devastated Cruckshank said today: "This has ruined my life over here. I'm appalled by the way the decision has gone against me.
"I came to England to play rugby league at the highest possible level and felt my career was developing well.
"To say I'm gutted is an understatement."
Cruckshank's application was rejected because he had played in only 72.5% of games while with his previous club, world champions St Helens.
Players must have played in 75% of the games if they are to continue working the next season.
He appealed against the Home Office's original refusal of a work permit.
But yesterday he learned that his appeal had been rejected.
The decision was taken by Home Office Minster Lord Rooker, despite the strenuous efforts of Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman and Parliamentary Rugby League group chairman David Hinchliffe, the MP for Wakefield.
Cruckshank, 25, first arrived in England in 1999 to play for Leigh. He was due to make his Giants' debut in tomorrow's Northern Ford Premiership match against Doncaster Dragons.
He said: "The Home Office say they only want players to play in England who are of a proven quality and had questioned my ability on that score.
"But surely by playing almost three-quarters of the games for a club like St Helens it proves I have that ability.
"Even though I have received the backing of so many people - and for that I am very grateful - it has counted for nothing."
The news has angered Mr Sheerman.
"It is a sad day when formerly strong and independent ministers are so swallowed up by the civil service bureaucrats that they can't act independently and decisively to ensure that justice rather than bureaucracy triumphs," said Mr Sheerman.
"The Home Office have not taken account of individual circumstances.
"Had Heath Cruckshank played one more game for world club champions St Helens, he would have had nothing to worry about.
"The fact that he played so many games for Saints proves he's a world-class player."
Cruckshank's absence is a massive blow to the club, with Giants chief executive Ralph Rimmer admitting that the forward will be a hard man to replace.
"He is a quality player and will be a huge loss to this club," he said.
