England rugby star's dad stopped from seeing cancer-stricken wife by immigration red tape

mirror.co.uk:

An “immensely proud” veteran whose son is an England rugby union star has been stopped from seeing his cancer-stricken wife by immigration red tape.

Ilaitia Cokanasiga, dad of Joe, assumed he would be free to live in the UK, after 14 years in the British Army, including two tours of Iraq.

But the right is not automatic for discharged Comm-onwealth soldiers. Illatia says he feels “betrayed” and devastated at not being able to “return to the UK to care for my wife”.

Speaking from Fiji, he said: “I talk to [her] every other day, and she cries. “She is very worried. Everyone is struggling to cope.” Yesterday, Joe, who was in England’s world cup squad last year, backed his dad saying it was a “bitter pill to swallow”.