No , he has a ' contract ' that the club pay him wages

If he is de registered , then he cannot play RL for HKR , and I am assuming his wages are not included in the clubs Salary Cap total

It would only become a problem for Dobbo if Masons passport isn't here by the time Dobbo is fit again, which is about 10 weeks, enough time for someone to nip into Asda to take some beers out to the King of Tonga and pick it up personally. Dobson is only de-registered as an overseas player, not as an Hull KR player and will still be paid. It doesn't affect him one iota.

Of course their included.

his wages will be on cap as he as already played for kr this season

Good point, say he is on 100k, thats 20k off the cap to give Willie

No. He has one contract. A contract which includes payment while injured.

It's not actually that unusual for players with long term injuries to be deregistered - either for salary cap or quota reasons.

It might become a problem when they're fit and the club finds themselves paying a player who's fit to play but not registered to.

But that's a problem for the club.

The governing body doesn't have a problem - it has rules which state clubs may spend X amount on registered players and X number of them may be overseas or non-fed trained players. If the clubs want to spend money on people who aren't registered to play for them, it's no skin of the RFL's nose.

I hope not. That's a breach of his visa

Doesnt it say that the club have terminated the playing contract of Michael Dobson and as per the RFL's operational rules he reverts to free agency? (c1:2:12 b in the operational rules if you are interested)

and also isnt there a rule within the operational rules which states any overseas player who is de-registered, cannot then be re-registered within the same season?

If the RFL rules are followed then i cant see how Dobson will play for HKR again this season at least.

Good to see commitment to british youth though.

Intersting smokey, I was also wondering if masons come on his nz passport linked to his visa, will he need a new visa when his Tongan passport arrives?

and also isnt there a rule within the operational rules which states any overseas player who is de-registered, cannot then be re-registered within the same season?

If the RFL rules are followed then i cant see how Dobson will play for HKR again this season at least.

I hope so, others you could have as many overseas players as you liked and just register the ones that are picked each week

im not sure on his visa, but the rfl operational rules are pretty specific with regards to Dobson

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I would expect them (the rfl) to justify their reasoning for giving HKR dispensation in this case (if thats what they are to do)

If his stay in the UK is based on his governing body permission to work (i.e the quota issue) and he is currently "from" NZ (on quota), then he will need a new visa in the Tongan passport, as this is the nationality that will allow him to be off quota and therefore work, assuming Rovers' quota is otherwise full.

I think.

I am sure that this course of action the club has taken will have been planned to allow mason to arrive and that the club will have discussed the implications with the RFL. It would be an almighty cock up if we lost Dobson to get Mason here for the Crusaders game while his passport was in the post. No matter what certain neighbours of ours think of Neil Hudgell, the bloke is no idiot and is a lawyer by day and has a very good understanding of the workings of the RFL.

if he does he does, if he doesnt he doesnt.

The rules are pretty explicit and there isnt really a reading of them that would allow HKA to re-register Dobson without the dispensation of the RFL board.

If the RFL are to give said dispensation then they should publicly explain why.

So the rules state Dobson can't be re registered and Mason will need to apply for another visa when he obtains his Tongan passport.

Good news for hkr then.