Barrow Raiders can confirm that Mathieu Cozza’s time on loan at the club has come to an end.
Cozza, 22, joined the Raiders on an initial one-month loan deal from Catalans Dragons, and we were hopeful of retaining him until the end of the 2022 Betfred Championship season.
However, the restrictions of movement on European nationals caused by the Brexit agreement means that a full working visa needs to be obtained to work in the UK beyond an initial one-month period.
Under the rules, the Raiders cannot apply for a visa under a loan agreement as we are not his direct employer. The visa route can also take time and is a costly process.
Cozza made three appearances during his time in Cumbria, quickly establishing himself in the Raiders first team. He was also part of the squad that secured a memorable 24-16 victory over York City Knights last weekend.
The Barrow club made this statement: “With the signing deadline looming towards the end of July, the club remains on the lookout for available players who could bolster our squad, although by the same token we are happy with our back-up resources in what has been a fantastic return season in the Betfred Championship.
“Cozza departs the club with our best wishes, and would like to wish him well in his future career. “
