Former Warriors and Kiwis prop Russell Packer has been given the all-clear to return to the National Rugby League.
The former Warriors now Dragons forward Russell Packer while playing for the Warriors. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Australian newspaper is reporting that the St George Illawarra player will be allowed to stay in Australia following his jail time for assualt.
The Australian immigration department had been reviewing Packer's visa and whether he should be sent home to New Zealand.
In 2014 Packer was sentenced to years in prison for a drunken assault at Sydney's Martin Place in which he repeatedly punched and stomped on his victim while he was on the ground.
He was paroled after 12 months on appeal.
In 2013 Packer signed a four-year contract with the Newcastle Knights, starting in 2014, but it was terminated before he could play because of the assualt.
In May this year he returned to rugby league with the Illawarra Cutters in the New South Wales Cup.
In October he signed a two-year deal with the Dragons after receiving approval from the NRL to sign a playing contract again.
Packer's been training with them since.