Morgan led Hull KR into Super League in 2006

Hull Kingston Rovers coach Justin Morgan has confirmed that big winter signing Willie Mason may not arrive in the country for several weeks.

Although Australia international Mason, was recently granted a Tongan passport, allowing him to join the Robins as a non-quota player, he is not in the UK.

And he is now officially ruled out of this Sunday's season opener in Cardiff, the Magic Weekend derby against Hull.

"We hope he'll be here in the next two to three weeks," said Morgan.

"We're still waiting for certain aspects of the paperwork."

The path had appeared to be clear for Mason to move to the East Yorkshire club because of an agreement signed more than 10 years ago between the European Union and various Pacific nations.

Mason, who has a Tongan mother but was actually born in New Zealand, visited the King of Tonga to gain a Tongan passport and cut through red tape that had threatened his move to Super League.

The 30-year-old North Queensland Cowboys forward had been registered with the Rugby Football League as a non-Federation trained player, but does not count on the five-strong quota that applies in Super League.

That is because of the Cotonou Agreement the EU signed with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States in June 2000 and the subsequent European Court of Justice's 2003 Kolpak ruling which gives them the same right to freedom of work and movement as EU citizens.

Signatories to the Cotonou Agreement also include Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.

Mason was awaiting a UK entry visa before he can join his new team-mates.

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