Salford Red Devils certainly aren't a new club otherwise there would have to be an application for admittance to the RFL!!

The Company issue is perhaps more interesting - Dr K now owns the Salford Franchise through a different company to that of which John Wilkinson was chairman. My guess is that all contracts were assigned from the old to the new and thereby remained in force?

He signed for Crusaders just before they folded. If the Crusaders players could find another club to sign for they didn't count on the quota, not sure how long this lasts though.

Could some in detail explain the non fed quota rules because I am now lost? I've tried to look for them everywhere even the RFL site and it does say anything?

Right ok Tim Smith was sold to Salford to stop Wakefield going into Administrtion maybe the RFL have given smith the same exemption?

And nottstiger you say the RFL don't know who Salford have signed? They have a video link on their website that's all about Salford Red Devils rebranding and signings I'm sure if there was something wrong theyd have noticed when the video was uploaded to their site.

They are in the Operational Rules.

However, they are very confusing in that it says clubs are allowed a maximum of 5 players who do not fall into the category of club trained or federation trained.

Then in another section it refers to a club being allowed a max of 5 overseas players with exemption to being an overseas player being an EU national, player who has lived over 4 years in a RLEF member state or those who can live here under the Contonou agreement.

Either way I'd assume that Puletua and Sa'u are exempt having Samoan passport under the latter agreement and this is why. Perhaps some clarity from the RFL could be sought?

There are 2 rules. The Overseas Quota and the Non-Fed Trained List. They run alongside each other. Some players are on both, some on just 1 and some on neither.

The Overseas Quota restricts a club to having a max of 5 players who are non-EU nationals and is the "old" rule that's been around for a while. Clubs often found ways around this by having overseas players find some EU heritage and therefore gain an EU passport. eg Pat Richards getting an Irish passport

The Non-Fed Trained List is the "new" rule that was brought in as an attempt to close the loopholes in the Overseas Quota. It restricts a club to a max of 5 players who are Non-Federation Trained (basically not produced by a club in Europe). There are a couple of exemptions to this rule as mentioned by others previously. Players who were playing over here before 2008 are exempt (there appears to be some discussion about when that actually means re Tim Smith). Players who were signed by Crusaders just before they went under are exempt eg Sammut at Bradford.

As I said the rules run alongside each other. For instance Leeds quotas are:
Overseas Quota:
Joel Moon
Kylie Leuluai
Brett Delaney

Mitch Achurch doesn't count as he has a British passport.

Non-Fed Trained List:
Joel Moon
Brett Delaney
Mitch Achurch

Kylie Leuluai doesn't count as he was at Leeds prior to 2008.

That was the point of the none fed rule because players were finding a European granny getting an EU passport and sticking 2 fingers up to the RFL.

Pre FEB 08 not pre JUNE 08 as has already been pointed out.

1 contract length.
Withers and O'Hara have been hit by that this close season as they are back on the non-fed list and so are gone.

Are we sure it's pre feb 2008???? and not just the 2008 season?

This rule seems to allow a club to get around the rule with permission.

ie

Wakey are not going to be able to pay the players, we can pay them but we'd need an exemption to take smith off their hands in lieu of payment.


B1the Board shall be given
the discretion to grant to a Club or Clubs an exemption or variance of the maximum and
minimum in particular categories of the „Club Trained Player‟ Rule where in the Board‟s
absolute discretion the circumstances justify such an exemption or variance. The burden
of establishing such circumstances is strictly on the individual Club.

Totally sure.

Very interesting post. Looks pretty clear that some players can be counted as 'club trained' , even if they didn't spend time at the club as youngsters.

Just below that it says:
B1.15 The Board shall have the discretion to declare that a Player qualifies as a ‘Club Trained Player’ or a ‘Federation Trained Player’ notwithstanding that the player does not satisfy strictly the definition where in the Board’s absolute discretion the Board is satisfied that the player satisfies the spirit of the definition or considers that in view of the circumstances relevant to that case it is appropriate to declare that a Player qualifies as a ‘Club Trained Player’ or a ‘Federation Trained Player.

Would a player representing the Federation at the highest level satisfy the spirit of the definition?
Would the circumstances relevant to Wakefield's current position make it appropriate to declare one of their assets 'Fed -trained' in order to allow the club to obtain a much needed cash injection?

Notts, you may have to put your faith in the UKBA.

A couple of years ago we signed Jarrad Hickey only to find out we couldn't register him as we didn't have a non-fed trained slot for him. So I wouldn't be so sure that Salford have officially registered these players for next year yet.

Nothing against Salford but if (and it's not clear this is the case) they have been given an exemption then that is wrong, unless this exemption is basically extended to any player at any club in financial difficulty and applies to any club who wishes to sign them.

That's what I thinks going to be the reason, there's no difference between Shannon McPhearson getting exemption because Crusaiders were struggling financially and had to ofload him to Salford and Tim Smith getting exemption because Now wakey are heading down admin lane and had to offload him to pay wages.