French rugby players held up at UK airport due to ETA and passport rules

Four players from French rugby club Union Bordeaux-Bègles (UBB) and a member of the club’s staff were held at Bristol Airport for several hours on Thursday (October 15) because of problems with their UK travel authorisations.

The five members of the delegation were stopped because their Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) were still linked to their previous passports, which had been renewed this year.

ETA is required for visitors travelling to the UK who do not already have the right to live there. It is linked to the passport used to apply, meaning travellers who obtain a new passport must apply for a new ETA before their next trip.

This also affects some British nationals who have acquired French citizenship in recent years. 

Under the new rules, dual British-French nationals must travel to the UK using a valid British or Irish passport, or obtain a £589 certificate of entitlement proving their right to enter the UK.

Club sought help from French authorities

The four players involved were Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Romain Gardrat, Matis Perchaud and Toma Taufa, plus the club’s strength and conditioning coach, Manu Espiasse.

The team tried to explain the situation to British officials but was unable to resolve the problem.

“The British authorities won't budge,” a source told AFP. “We've told them that these are top-level athletes, including a well-known French international, who came to play in a European Rugby Champions Cup match, but they're inflexible. The players are stuck at the airport.”

UBB then contacted the French embassy in London and Bordeaux mayor Thomas Cazenave in an effort to resolve the situation.

The five were eventually allowed to leave, with reports placing their departure at around 21:00 local time on Thursday. They were then able to rejoin the rest of the team.

The team was able to take part in the UBB’s Champions Cup match against Gloucester on Friday, October 16.