Crusaders players granted dispensation

Crusaders’ recent withdrawal of their Super League licence application has sparked the RFL to grant special dispensation to Crusaders’ players who are faced with an uncertain future.

Due to the dispensation in place, in total there are 13 players (Non-Federation Trained and overseas quota players) from Crusaders who have been displaced. This is a unique set of circumstances, as clubs other than Crusaders have a more limited number of Non-Federation and Quota players.

The RFL have agreed the following:

– Federation Trained dispensation is granted to the displaced Non-Federation Trained Crusaders players.
– Any club that signs one or more of the players be granted an exemption on their quota. 
– In both cases the dispensation or exemption is granted for the length of the contract signed by player and club.

In addition, there are a number of players, who have obtained Club Trained (CT) or Club Trained Whilst There (CTWT) status with Crusaders. Due to their age, none of them will have the opportunity to achieve CT or CTWT status with another member club.

With this in mind, the RFL have agreed the following:

Those players that were CT or CTWT are granted CTWT status for the duration of their next contract with a Super League club.

“Protecting player welfare is of paramount importance to us,” said RFL’s Chief Operating Officer Ralph Rimmer.

“In being able to act quickly with this special dispensation ruling, we are giving those Crusaders players that have been affected by the club’s decision to withdraw their Super League Licence application every opportunity to find a new club from the start of the 2012 season.  

“We have been able to do this by working alongside the RLPA and also Crusaders CEO, Rod Findlay, and we would like to thank them for their help in this matter.” Rimmer added.

Club Trained Player rule explained

The purpose behind the ‘Club Trained Player’ rule is to encourage clubs to develop and better their own players so that there are more players coming into the game and so that standards improve.

A further purpose is to afford an opportunity to junior players to play in top level competitive matches in order to aid their development and ensure the development of the sport.

Club Trained Player 

A Club Trained Player is one who has been on a club’s register for three full seasons before the end of the season in which he ceases to be eligible by age for Reserve Grade football.

Federation Trained Player

A Federation Trained Player is one who has been on the register of one or more member Clubs in the same Rugby League Federation as the Club he wishes to join (Great Britain for the majority, France in the case of players joining Catalan Dragons) for three full seasons before the end of the season in which he ceases to be eligible by age for Reserve Grade football.

Non-Federation Trained Player

A Player who does not meet either of the definitions above.