If the club is affiliated to the RFL, yes.

What about BARLA then? Will he be able to play amateur games? Whether it is a good idea or not, I am unsure as if he did try to maintain fitness, he would be a bullseye for every player looking to put one over on him.

Quite a lot of amateur clubs are affiliated to the RFL. I'm assuming some will be affiliated to both RFL and BARLA. I'd be surprised if Hock was banned that he could just turn up in the amateur game. Don't remember other players banned doing this. Also BARLA get quite a lot of their funding via the Sport England route so I'd imagine that'll rule Hock from there as well.

In summary, no.

Couldn't agree more. He has done wrong, he has got a ban.
It's a two year ban, not a life ban.

He can only do the punishment he gets.
In my view once he has undergone the sanction his "slate" should be clean.

Hock tears super league up quite a lot, imagine what he would do to amatuer teams

Sorry

I know I am old but Hock knew what he was doing. All season ticlet holders and others are supporting his habit, do we buy our tickets for this?

He has let many down and worse still treated us with contempt, he knew what he was doing and continued. Whilst I am very strict regarding this I also have many questions to ask of the Wigan medical staff as to why this was not spotted? This is incompetence of the highest order as my daughter 2/3 weeks before after seeing him on TV said "he is on coke" and on his own admissions must have been "unfit for training" etc. If they didn't know surely they i.e. Wigan RLFC should have an on going drug testing programme, after all this is just a quick urine or blood test. This should be common place and incorporated in contracts.

Sorry I have no sympathy and he has let too many people down especially his own family and friends and the fans, maybe he should get another chance but I ask the question can he ever be trusted again? Perhaps because of the age I was brought up in 50/60's I have this opinion. All he must do is get clean ASAP and take it from there.

This is a massive moment in GH's life that he must sort out.

It says in the WEP that the club told him not to talk about it until after the hearing...

No it doesnt. It says the club hoped he would wait to speak about it till then.

If the money from the NOTW was on the table, he was obviously going to take it.

And fair play to him. He will need whatever cash is out there for him.

His habit is no worse than anyone else's, be it drinking, smoking or driving too fast. UNlike those habits, the law decides to declare this one as 'illegal'.

I think you will find that is also "illegal"

I just got a speeding ticket...You feeling sorry for me???? Bad move to go to the NOTW. If he wants the supoort of the club, this was not the thing to do... A halfwit would realise this...

Give over.

Have a think about the whole chain from production to import to distribution and the crime/exploitation it generates and funds at every stage, rather than just a Wigan player stuffing his nose on King St.

To suggest it's no different to having a beer is nonsense.

Dead right.

Did anyone watch "The Street" last night. There was a similar discussion.

Superb programme

You clearly don't live in Columbia or Haiti.

I think that he knew what he was doing and the inevitable 2 year ban is deserved and sufficient in my eyes.

That said I hate to see a young man p155 it all up the wall for the sake of what is clearly a mistake that he now regrets. I'd like to see him involved with educating kids and academy players about avoiding the pitfalls that he hasn't been able to. If he can turn one kid off trying coke then he has redeemed himself in my eyes.

I personally hope to see Gareth Hock playing in Super league again as it is a real shame but that's entirely up to him.