As a professional rugby player maybe (and rightly so is my stance), however it would not stop him getting a job in the open job market like the rest of us.

He could get a job in a factory packing shelves, and get a gig for Dockers on a Saturday afternoon.

It would still be restraint of trade as his [iprofessional[/i skills are as an RL player and the RFL would be preventing him from using these skills to find employment.

But that is a restriction of HIS trade.

If a nurse is convicted in a court of law of assault the NMC (governing body)would remove them from the register, thus preventing them from employment using their skills in this country, however that nurse could try & get a job in a different industry. It's the same thing all the RFL would be doing is preventing him from plying his trade at a professional level, therefore he would have to work in a different industry, it would definitely clean the sport up.

Where would the RFL draw the line if they did step in?

Assualt
Drink Driving
Peeing in the street
1st offence

What is the NRL precedent

Pretty much how I see it. Not sure that the HDM is a good enough source of facts to be definitive and the seeming shortage of witnesses was one that surprised me. However at the end of the day he's been convicted and that's the bottom line.

The RFL could just stop him plying his trade in SL but allow him to be picked up by a CC club. This wouldn't restrict his right to ply his trade as a professional RL player

Mason got sent to Rovers

The championship is run by the RFL so his trade would obviously include that= pro/semi pro, basically getting paid for doing the job.

I'd be genuinely interested in an example of this. As far as I know the only occasion when this is legal is if a profession requires a license to practice and the licence is issued by a [iregulatory[/i body rather than a governing body. Doctors and Pharmacists for instance. And that only works because there is legislation in place to support it.

Drink driving has seen a player stood down and fined 50k.

Anything that brings the game into distripute i'd guess, each case rule separately.

crookes brought a bad name to the club so at the most should be suspended maybe and fined,It was a drunken moment but that isnt no excuse to hit anyone when your a proffesional sportsman

makes you wonder, dont it.

Good old f90

Totally wrong as usual you tool!

Personally imo the lad needs to be given a chance not just thrown on the scrap heap at the first sign of trouble. The most worrying thing of the whole episode is AP is almost defending his actions by saying that his punishment was harsh. I think in these situations the clubs should publicly condemn what the player has done and should be seen to not condone actions of this sort by issuing a fine or impose sanctions of some sort. Behind closed doors they can say what they want and have their own opinions but because we are apparently a family sport, we need to be seen to be doing the right thing.

Could the RFL impose a Standard of acceptable behaviour, for anyone wanting to be registered to play in their completion, in a similar way they supposedly demand certain standards of facilities and finance from the clubs wanted to enter their competitions?

Anyone else surprised that the HDM article says he is 5' 11''. He seems shorter to me, but if that is his height he should be able to compete for high balls better than he does.

he could be 5'11 - players tend to look smaller on the pitch than they do up close

Actually, not just RL players - things in general look bigger when they're closer. It was covered in an episode of Father Ted once.

I hope and expect the club would take some disciplinary action against him but wouldn't expect them to make it public.

It's a shame this sorry episode ever happened, but given I'm not privy to any of the real facts, I can't pass judgement on it.

AP is no fool, he wouldn't say he's been dealt with harshly if he didn't believe it. If the club are willing to stand by him and give him another chance, shouldn't we?

Rovers fans shouldn't forget that they supported Ben Cockayne years after he repeatedly kicked and stood on a man laying prone on the floor.

Shhh! Mike Smith might get him confused with Ben Crooks and he'll end up at ours