They're supposed to be registered. And it's supposed to be unique for that season. But then you have clubs like Swinton & Rochdale last year (and many others over the years) who use so many players that multiple players end up wearing the same number (and some players end up wearing different ones) which completely contradicts the whole system. But their argument I'm sure would be if they're using 50+ players in a season (which Rochdale certainly did), then it costs them more to print 50+ home and away shirts, when they could just have some with numbers and no names on which anyone can wear.

I've always thought either do the system or don't, but don't do it half assed like the Championship & League 1 seem to do.

I’m just waiting for the RFL to get back to me with the official wording of the rule, I’ll post in here when it arrives.

Didn't we get special dispensation last season with the No 1 shirt when McNally left and Pickersgill got it ?

Yes. But that's the thing, Rhys is still our player this season, we've just sent him out on loan...
Which I suppose is good, if he can't force his way into Agar's plans by the end of April, for example, then the loan may be cancelled and he comes back to us, without using a loan spot.

No, I believe you mate - it's just I'd not heard it before. In fact we re-used one or two at the end of some recent seasons.

Olsi Krasniqi and Thomas Doyle both wore the same shirt number last year.

That’s exactly the way John explained it to me last night.

Once Krasniqi returned to Toronto from his dual reg wouldn’t he have been de-registered with the club and therefore his number was de-registered (plus he was never ‘our’ player). Where as Evans is our player, just out on loan.

They still wore the same number. Generally with squad numbers, once a number has been worn in a game, it's not worn by someone else for the season. Nowhere near as bad as some clubs do with the numbers, but just pointing out that the Bulls have done it too.
As I say, either do it properly or don't do it. I personally am a fan of squad numbers as I think it helps the more casual fans (and new fans) know who's who on a regular basis more easily.

Whatever happened to No 6 who wanted to be a free man?

He decided he was not a number...