Rumours Ad Infinitum

Quote: "Below are a series of FAQ’s designed to explain queries regarding the Quota and Federation rulings.

1 – What is the Quota rule?
- The overseas Quota is a limit on the number of players RFL member clubs can register who do not have a right to work in the UK (generally speaking on account of not holding a current European Union member country passport).
- Currently, Super League clubs are permitted five Quota players, one for Championship clubs and two for Championship One clubs.

2 – Is it only European Union passport holders who are ‘off-Quota’?
- No. The EU has signed various trade and association agreements promoting, amongst other things, free trade between the EU states and signatory nation(s)
- Of particular relevance to Rugby League is the ‘Cotonou Agreement’ signed with the ‘African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States’ in June 2000.
- Signatories to the Cotonou agreement included various Pacific Island states such as Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga.

3 – What does that mean?
- Cotonou country passport holders are, as a consequence of the European Court of Justice’s 2003 ‘Kolpak’ ruling, given free movement to work within the European Union (and therefore the UK).
- The Kolpak judgment declared that citizens of countries that have signed agreements with the European Union, have the same right to freedom of work and movement within the EU as EU citizens (subject to any visa restrictions)
- Thus any restrictions placed on their right to work (such as quotas setting maximum numbers of such foreign players in sports teams) are not compatible with EU law.

4 – How does that impact on Rugby League?
- In short, as a result of the Cotonou agreement and Kolpak judgment, players who hold a current passport for a country such as the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, etc (or an EU country such as France, Malta etc) cannot count as Quota players.

5 – What are the RFL’s ‘Club Trained’ rules
- The Club Trained rule only applies to Super League clubs and was first implemented for the 2008 season.
- Clubs are required to have a minimum number of such players (defined as those developed by the club at some point between ages 16-21) in their first team squad.
- The ‘Club Trained’ rules are separate to the Quota rules and were designed to encourage the development of ‘home grown’ (‘Club Trained’) players.
- In encouraging the development of ‘home grown’ players, the ‘Club Trained’ rules include a limit on the number of ‘Non Federation Trained’ players within a club’s first team squad.

6 – What is a ‘Non Federation Trained’ player?
- In simplified terms, a ‘Non Federation Trained’ player is one who was not playing for a club within the Rugby League European Federation between age 16-21.
- Clubs are limited to five ‘Non Federation Trained’ players only.

7 – Can there be ‘Non Federation Trained’ exemptions?
- There are a number of current Super League players who would otherwise count as ‘Non Federation Trained’ who have been given ‘Federation Trained’ player status by RFL dispensation.
- Such dispensations have largely been granted on account of the players in question having been playing for an RFL member club (whether in the UK or France) before the rules were introduced.

8 – Do players only count on one list?
- No. The Quota and Club Trained rule systems operate as separate squad requirements.
- Depending on his circumstances, a player might count as both a Quota player and as a ‘Non Federation Trained’ player.
- For example, a player holding a passport from, say, Australia or New Zealand only and whose player development was outside the European Federation (i.e. between ages 16-21) will count as both a Quota player and a ‘Non Federation Trained’ player.
- However, by contrast, if the same player holds a current, say, Samoan passport, he would be classified as ‘off Quota’ but would still count on the club’s ‘Non Federation Trained’ list.

Ultimately, in understanding the separate rules as to overseas players, it is perhaps important to understand that there are two separate lists and that players might count as both Quota and Non Federation Trained players – but some will count on one list but not the other depending on their passport and whether they have been granted Federation Trained status by RFL dispensation.'"

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