I understand it, but Mason/Newton are Federation trained due to their passports (RFL sanctioned), Fisher/Vella are Federation due to the rules the RFL put in place about the date the players joined they club, and Lovegrove counts as homegrown due to the age he joined the club (U21).

Then we have our 5 quota players (Galea/Dobbo/Newton/Webster/Green). We have no non-federation players in our squad.

Too true, you should see his words of wisdom on the VT.. apparently our board would never dream of 'operating at full cap' or 'making more than 1 big money signing a season' but apparently Long/Fitzgibbon don't count as big money signings.

So why is Mason federation trained but not Sam Moa?

You bite a bit don't ya lol.



I don't know. Maybe because they can accomodate him without the need to utilise him having a Tongan passport.

Apparently not, as Mason should not qualify as Fed Trained according to the rules you yourself linked to, and Newton is Fed Trained under the same rules as Fisher & Vella.

The point about Mason is that whatever loophole is being used is completely new and not indicated in the rules governing overseas players. It potentially opens up the floodgates for a mass of imported players with Islands passports, and will give clubs extra spaces on their existing rosters as players who were thought to be Non Fed suddenly become Fed Trained. There is also the possibility of fallout from clubs and/or players who were let go or not signed because of a lack of overseas space when in fact there should have been spare slots.

The implications are huge.

If you mean the rules the wigan fan posted on that forum, then Mason fits in with those I think.

It said that players with Kolpak Passports (Samoa, Tonga etc....) are exempt from quota. It then goes on to use Richards, Leuluai and Hansen as examples, so this must mean those three are Fed trained.

I think it would be helpful if the rules were clear for everyone to see.

That scenario requires the RFL to make some illogical decisions.

Assume the fault is all Rovers and Hull KR decide to bully their way out of it. This might work, though it'd be a bit timid of the RFL to accept it (possible admittedly). You'd think they'd at least describe the situation as 'disappointing' and embarras us. They seem happy enough.

More likely the RFL have been kept in the loop and are party to any f-up. This isn't the simplest way out. Give Ben Galea a 'bridging exemption' until his passport comes through rather than letting everybody with Islander heritage become fed-trained - it'd cause a few grumbles, but the rules survive.

The only conclusion I can see is that the RFL have decided that the rules are going to be unworkable/ineffective/irrelevant and were content to accept a [ide facto[/i return to pre-2008 rules. They still have 'club-trained', which is the route football is going down. That'll be easier for them and - if they build on it - possibly more effective.

@Scott HKR...

As the rules [istood[/i, there is no way Mason should qualify as fed-trained whatever passports he hold.

Moa and Lauaki should both now be eligible for fed-trained status.

The 3 Wigan players you mention were already here at the start of the 2008 season. That qualifies them as fed-trained (Hansen would anyway actually), and they have the right passports to get off the old quota.

Mason wasn't here for 2008 so shouldn't qualify as fed-trained - being off the old quota would be irrelevant.

Mason does not fit in with any of the rules. Being off quota is not the same as being Fed Trained. This is what I meant when I said that you don't understand the rules.

The problem with that is the use of the phrase Federation Trained in the quote from the RFL. This is a phrase with a clear definition within the Operational Rules, and Mason equally clearly does not qualify. If they've just dropped the whole Non Fed/Fed Trained scenario then why bother to mention it and shine a light on the fundamental contradiction?

Anyway - I've actually emailed the RFL politely asking for a clarification. If I get a response I'll post it here. Not holding my breath, mind.

Please, read what I am writing.

I am well aware that fed trained is not the same as being off quota. Quota, Non-Fed trained, Fed-trained and home grown are the 4 categories of players correct?

But, read what that link said. Wigan had their 5 spots filled by genuine quota players, at the time of writing that post, clubs were then allowed 1 further NON-FED trained player, and the rest had to be (minus the 6? I think homegrown players required) federation trained. However, it said they had 3 further players who were not on the quota. So at least 2 of them had to be in the same situation Mason is now - going on the FED TRAINED list due to passport - correct? Or does Pat Richards suddenly count as home grown?

And I also emailed the RFL asking for the situation to have light shed on lol. And it was an impartial email, clearly identifying that by the rules stated by the RFL, Mason should not be allowed to be fed trained. Equally, if I recieve a response, I will post it

I think what's encouraging is the way that Rovers are doing their very best to stay within the spirit of what the RL are trying to achieve with the quota rules. It's important not only to even up the competition but to develop British talent so that the northern hemisphere can compete at international level. Long gone are the days when Rovers needed to look for loopholes to get players such as Gene off the quota because they've been working hard on local player development. I applaud them.

This is from a club who have used a loop hole to get a coach here.

The difference between Richards and Mason is that Richards was here in 2008. If Richards came across now, he'd be non-fed.

It would be so counter-productive if such a loophole exists. It would blow a hole in everything the RFL has been trying to achieve over the last 10 years with regard to British and mainland European player development. Very disappointing for the game as a whole if true.

I am.


You need to go back and read that link again. It doesn't say what you think it says.

I hope Scott isn't advising Rovers on this

But Leo-Latu the Kiwi who also played for Tonga has been playing in this country for a few seasons and is refused a re-entry visa.

That's nothing to do with the quota or where he trained.

But that's possibly down to the more strict visa process now and his less than clean off-field record.

I think that would have been the simplest way out of this situation.
My own take on this is that at some point last year the RFL gave rovers an assurance (either verbal or written) that Galea would not count as a quota player because of his new maltese passport. At this point rovers went ahead and signed Mason. With the delay to Galea's passport, rovers have gone back to Red Hall to clarify the situation.
Realising they'd painted themselves into a corner, the RFL have taken their usual action by fudging the issue and have made a mountain out of a molehill. I can't believe they would allow themselves to be bullied by Hudgell. Not even the RFL are that weak-kneed, are they?

I'm amazed that there is so much fuss over hull kr cheating again. they've been doing it since I started watching the game and probably were a long time before that. It's in their blood

Why should galea get a bridging visa? What if his passport doesn't turn up?

To save face and as an alternative to all Islanders (and maybe EU passport holders?) qualifying as fed-trained even if they arrive now or in the future. They've chosen to bin their rules rather than fudge them, when that alternative existed - that is curious and has some dramatic implications for SL. In theory at least - when the NRL gets more TV money, that'll change things again and maybe more profoundly.

So what if all the clubs put applications for bridging dispensation? What they should have said is no, not until Galeas passport comes through.

When the NRL's salary cap and league grows ageing players will still come to sl for a easier time and so will the poorer players who can't get contracts in the nrl.