www.halifaxrlfc.co.uk/article.php?id=1684 The power of RLFANS, eh? And it was a Fax fan that spotted it then posted it to kick it all off.

www.halifaxrlfc.co.uk/article.php?id=1684 The power of RLFANS, eh? And it was a Fax fan that spotted it then posted it to kick it all off.

Edited for accuracy

RFL caught with their pants down. After the Hull incident there seems to be no excuse for not taking a single day to get an IT bod to flag potential ineligible players in named squads for the CC. They didn't do it and it remains to be seen whether they have an explanation as to why Fax were able to get to the say of the game without being rumbled. I hope that the Fax balls-up doesn't distract attention away from the RFL one, which is of greater significance for the game as a whole. I thought I knew to expect nothing but the worst from the RFL but this repeat of a mistake only two years old is shocking.

Halifax RLFC are wholly to blame.

Fax are responsible for the initial offence. The RFL are reponsible for the ludicrous timing and manner of the offence being noticed, to the detriment of all parties involved.

Why not operate a live system - before the tie, submit your squad and the RFL checks whether all players are eligible. Is that really so time-consuming? I'm pretty sure a fairly basic Excel program could sort it. Or are we relying on citizens arrests like we has this weekend?

The spineless RFL has at least given itself a rule to hide behind.
With the Hull FC incident they had many clear precedents to use to disqualify Hull and bottled it.
Halifax will be booted out.

Be that as it may, calling off the game on the day is a disgrace, and a quite separate issue to Halifax's failings and punishment. If the rule is there it should be enforced systematically, not on the fly as and when a helpful member of the public does the RFL's job for them.

Humiliating for RFL (not that it will change a thing) and devastating for HRLFC, if we are thrown out. Who would've thought a single post on an internet forum could have such an impact.

Having blown our NRC chances against Hunslet, the one thing that looked like massively boosting our disappointing start to the season was a decent run in the CC. Our fans do not deserve this one bit

The Operational Rule that comes into effect states that if found guilty Halifax have to be disqualified from the Challenge Cup and that their most recent opponent (and only the most recent opponent) must be reinstated in their place even if they met in an earlier round.

Although an inconvenience for Batley the tie would have been postponed to prevent Batley becoming the most recent opponent. The Batley game being postponed means that the club that the alleged offence occurred against (Swinton) will be able to be reinstated if Fax are disqualified rather than Batley gaining a bye. The incident however late it was discovered, was discovered before Halifax had played another tie in the cup. To not postpone their tie with Batley would have opened up a can of worms as it would have meant slamming the door on Swinton in terms of the cup whilst virtually assuring Batley a place in the QFs.

Call the game off by all means. I have no problem with that. What I do have a problem with is the failure to spot it before then and without the assistance of a member of the public. That is no way to run a competition what system is in place it would appear there is none.

It's not much of a way to run a professional sports club either.

Presumably the RFL trust their member clubs sufficiently to do their own eligibility checks before every fixture, irrespective of the competition.

Maybe relying on RLFans.com is their system?

All this talk of spreadsheets and live updates to ensure a player isn't illegally played.

A bit of communication to the players stating 'they' are playing illegally if they play for two teams and fine the player in question if they play would stop it instantly I bet!

Maybe its not fair to put the responsibility into the hands of the player as its not that hard is it really but I bet if a player was looking at a £2000 fine if he played illegally this would never happen again.........simples!

Players are entirely responsible for what they put into their bodies, so why not apply a similar position here. The rules on eligibility aren't exactly difficult to follow, even for big daft lads like RL players.