League: Tuimaualuga gains new work permit

Former Wellington rugby league player John Tuimaualuga has successfully applied for a work permit to keep him playing for British club Workington Town.

The permit took the club 18 months to obtain, the Carlisle News and Star newspaper reported today.

Tuimaualuga was voted Britain's National League Two player of the year last season, but was due to head back to New Zealand next month when his two-year working holiday visa expired.

Town chairman Dave Bowden said the club had more or less given up on keeping him but discovered another permit route four weeks ago.

- NZPA