TBH I'm happier trusting my interpretation than Rule's. The club has a fair amount of previous when it comes to misinterpreting RFL regulations.

Quote Kosh="Kosh"You also need to read this PDF from Operational Rules Part 2: www.therfl.co.uk/clientdocs/Oper ... rt%202.pdf The relevant section is towards the end of page 2 - B1:11A onwards. The bit you read earlier basically just defines players who fit into the old 'quota' - i.e. not EU or Kolpak.'" Well spotted - it's a bit of a trawl and I failed to find that. It certainly shows that each are of responsibility within Hull FC has to adhere to quite a few, not always easy to interpret, rules and regulations.

Quote Kosh="Kosh"You also need to read this PDF from Operational Rules Part 2: www.therfl.co.uk/clientdocs/Oper ... rt%202.pdf The relevant section is towards the end of page 2 - B1:11A onwards. The bit you read earlier basically just defines players who fit into the old 'quota' - i.e. not EU or Kolpak.'" Well spotted - it's a bit of a trawl and I failed to find that. It certainly shows that each are of responsibility within Hull FC has to adhere to quite a few, not always easy to interpret, rules and regulations.

And that is exactly what worries me.

I hope they have it covered with a decent legal representative who can ensure that Hull's interpretation matches that of the RLs

Well my interpretation of that is that a player must have been at a SL club for 3 seasons before he reaches the age of 21 (I thinks thats the age a player is no longer qualified for the reserves?) in order to be classed as fed trained or club trained. Anything other than that could only be classed as special dispensation from the RFL? So even if Manu or Motu for that matter want to be classed as fed/club trained they would need to apply to the RFL without any gurantee they would agree. Anyone else read that differently?

So now that we've all read both of those extracts - bearing in mind it might be possible that there are recent appendices that we haven't seen; plus we don't know what player negotiations are going on - does anyone believe that Rule could have answered the email in a way that we could all agree was FACT?

"I don't really know" - I'd have believed him then!

Based on what I've read, the only way he could know it as fact is if either

a) we have already applied for, and been granted, special dispensation for one of our "quota" players.

or

b) one of the current "quota" (2 if you include Motu) players are leaving.

That's the 'Gene Exemption'. This isn't part of the Op Rules so doesn't feature in the above documents. And acceptance is guaranteed, provided you meet the requirements.

Which are?

Not having a neck

and unable to remember your age.

I suppose strictly speaking their 'quota' isn't full but from the outside looking in it seems there are no more places left for 'non-federation' players.

Could be a clever play on words from Mr Rule.