OT - Rules of RL : Fri Aug 22, 2014 10:51 am  

Hello.

Do you know if there is a rule pertaining to the age at which a player can play, in Australian parlance, first grade professional rugby league?

I'm sure I recently heard that players must be at least 18 years of age to play in the NRL.

Re: OT - Rules of RL : Fri Aug 22, 2014 10:59 am  

These are the player rules (I've not read them) if you want a dig through: http://www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/rules/i ... section=C1 I remember Andy Farrell made his Wigan debut at 16 and I'm sure he can't be the only one.

These are the player rules (I've not read them) if you want a dig through: http://www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/rules/i ... section=C1 I remember Andy Farrell made his Wigan debut at 16 and I'm sure he can't be the only one.

Re: OT - Rules of RL : Fri Aug 22, 2014 11:23 am  

I thought Nathan McAvoy was only 16 or 17 when he made his debut at the Willows?

Pretty sure I've seen players under 18 playing in the NRL.

Re: OT - Rules of RL : Fri Aug 22, 2014 11:27 am  

Scott Moore also made his SL debut at 16

Re: OT - Rules of RL : Fri Aug 22, 2014 12:16 pm  

Iain - thanks. I'll have a look.

MR - I think it was Andrew Voss wh mentioned a recent rule change in the NRL. Likewise I remember a number of players under 18 playing in the first team. Surely Theo is the most recent example at Salford?

AI - Indeed.

Re: OT - Rules of RL : Fri Aug 22, 2014 12:27 pm  

Red Preacher wrote: Iain - thanks. I'll have a look. MR - I think it was Andrew Voss wh mentioned a recent rule change in the NRL. Likewise I remember a number of players under 18 playing in the first team. Surely Theo is the most recent example at Salford? AI - Indeed. Any australian rule change wont show up in the document Iain posted. That is the current version of the RFL operational rules, and is only applicable to clubs registered to the RFL. The Australians are a little less good at publishing their rules (or rather Im not as good at finding them) - http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/document ... l_2012.pdf is the latest version I could (quickly) find and is the NRL equivilent to what Iain posted. Any new rules wont be in there though. There are quite a few examples of players playing before the age of 18, Scott Moore I believe still holds the record for being the youngest.

Red Preacher wrote: Iain - thanks. I'll have a look. MR - I think it was Andrew Voss wh mentioned a recent rule change in the NRL. Likewise I remember a number of players under 18 playing in the first team. Surely Theo is the most recent example at Salford? AI - Indeed. Any australian rule change wont show up in the document Iain posted. That is the current version of the RFL operational rules, and is only applicable to clubs registered to the RFL. The Australians are a little less good at publishing their rules (or rather Im not as good at finding them) - http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/document ... l_2012.pdf is the latest version I could (quickly) find and is the NRL equivilent to what Iain posted. Any new rules wont be in there though. There are quite a few examples of players playing before the age of 18, Scott Moore I believe still holds the record for being the youngest.

Re: OT - Rules of RL : Fri Aug 22, 2014 12:30 pm  

I can't find anything in the above link. I've taken a direct approach and asked the RFL.

MS - Aye, I figured it was only pertinent to British clubs. Thanks though.

After some although far from exhaustive research I can conform the Aussies are pretty tight lipped when it comes to publishing operational rules.



Thanks all

Re: OT - Rules of RL : Fri Aug 22, 2014 1:17 pm  

I've just heard back from the RFL and a player can play first grade once they've turned 16.

My research continues!

Re: OT - Rules of RL : Sat Aug 23, 2014 5:39 pm  

Max jowitt played for Wakefield last friday 17 years old but only just turned 17.