I know his special dispensation is only for this year but does anyone know if he's got a Maltese passport?

The reason I ask is is it justifiable for the RFL to place any qouta at all on someone with an EU passport. Under EU law he has the right to work in Britain. So is it justifiable to count him as non-fed trained?

I don't think it is in this case as he plays internationals for a country within the European Federation.

Not sure on the legalities either but if he plays for a country within the European Federation I personally find it stupid to not count him as being from said Federation. If it's simply a case of an Aussie getting a passport for convenience then I can see the logic in the non fed trained quota but not if the player represents a country within it ie. contributing to it.

No he doesn't hold one.

That's that then

I think the point he was making Mick is would he be able to get a Maltese passport and if so be eligible to come off quote as he would be fed trained technically !!!

I asked the above to Stuart in the pre season and from memory was that it wasn't possible.

Someone needs to put the feelers out and see if he's willing to put himself up for adoption.

having a uk/EU passport doesnt affect a players fed trained status. it only gets them off the overseas quota not the fed trained one.

Can't someone marry him?

I know. My question is is that right if the player has an EU passport and plays for a European Federation country?

I don't think it is.

Doesn't he have a pirate pass from a Caribbean island somewhere?

plenty of other players it applies to and no ones challenged it yet. Stopping people getting round overseas quota by getting eu/kolpak passports was the key reason the fed trained rule was brought in so would think RFL have had a good look at legality of it.

Think our only argument re: sammut could be if we had known the crusaders players were going to get dispensations for duration of their next contract, we'd have given him a longer one. Maybe a surprise announcement of an option for a further couple of years that we forgot to announce when we signed him, like leeds forgetting to announce lee smiths re-signing last year (although doubt we could do it as original contract will have been lodged with RFL when we registered him).

I thought that once you had a UK passport, you no longer show on any quota?

Thought that's what Jefferies did in the off season?

I think the Jefferies thing is different because he's been playing in the UK for so long.

jeffries is due to length of time he's been over. dont think players can get that anymore going forward.