Agree with all of that

The month in which he signed?



I know you say it doesn't matter when he signed, but if he signed in November 2007, surely he doesn't need to wait until November 2008 for that contract to come into force?

Personally my biggest doubt about it is that he hadn't played a competitive game prior to February 2008.

Think you might be on about different players there, Paul.



I think Standee was talking about Cusack.

I'd say its more likely to be the point at which the player was registered with the RFL. My biggest problem with it is that he is Australian so cant be classed as Fed trained anyway

Not read the rules on this bit personally, only seen the verdicts on here, so don't know how that goes TBH.

The fed trained part only applies to Kolpak players. No matter how many Kolpaks we get as Fed trained we can still only have a maximum of 5 Quota players.

Yeah, I've seen that interpretation on here, just not read the rules to see how that conclusion's been reached. No disrespect to anyone on here, I'm just not necessarily going to take it as fact on someone's say so.

From the RFL operational rules.....

[iEach Club shall be entitled to register only the Quota of "overseas Players" in all squads set out below in each season save for those Clubs which are granted an exemption in such form as the Board shall decide:
Maximum Number of Overseas Players - 2008 onwards Super League = 5[/i

I've emailed the RFL for clarification on this point. I'm pretty sure the dispensation doesn't apply to Overseas Players (e.g. Aussies and Kiwis) but let's see what they have to say.

I saw that quoted, and then I think I also saw somebody say about the non-federation rules being an amendment to the operational rules (part 2 or something). Is that about right?

If so, that's where my doubt kicks in. If the non-fed stuff is indeed an amendment to those rules outlining overseas players, the exemption only seems to mention non-federation trained players as a whole, it doesn't distinguish. I'm therefore wondering if the RFL have indeed extended it to all overseas players in the interests of fairness to the clubs.

That's probably the best way, hear it from the horse's mouth.

Its not. Kolpak players are now whats classed as the non fed/club trained players and the exemptions apply to them. Overseas players has been a maximum of 5 since the new changes were brought in.

Having said that......the following is the exact wording taken from the new rules

[iCLUB TRAINED

B1:11A This Clause is subject to Clause B1:11C in Seasons 2008-10. At the time of notification of the Provisional First Team Squad and First Team Squad and at all times, a Club’s First Team Squad, where that Club is in Super League, must consist of:

(a) a maximum of 5 players who satisfy none of the definitions of Club TrainedPlayers, Federation Trained Player from the Club’s own federation or Academy Junior.
(b) a minimum of 8 Club Trained Players or Academy Juniors
(c) the remainder being made up of Federation Trained Players from the Club’s ownfederation or Academy Juniors.[/i

With the following clause for 2010....

[iB1:11C In the following seasons the numbers in B1:11A above shall be amended to:

Season 2010: a maximum of 6 players who satisfy none of the definitions of Club Trained Players, Federation Trained Players from the Club’s own federation or Academy Junior and a minimum of 7 Club Trained Players or Academy Juniors.[/i

No mention of an "overseas" limit in those rules

All very confusing.