Dual registration within the RFL refers to an arrangement between clubs whereby a rugby league player within the Rugby Football League continues to be registered to his current club and is also registered to play for a club in a lower league.

The system is mostly aimed at young Super League players who are thought to be not quite ready to make the step up to first team duties but for whom first team match experience is likely to be beneficial for their development. This also has been extended to Championship teams dual registering with League 1 clubs.

Clubs in both the Super League and the Championships benefit from the new dual registration system which was introduced for the 2013 season. The new system is intended to complement the existing player loan system.[1]

The scheme was extended in 2024 to allow players of Championship and League One clubs to appear for NCL clubs.[2]

Rules edit

  • All players can be dual registered and the receiving club must be a club in a lower tier (i.e. Super League players must go to either the Championship or League 1, and Championship players must to either League 1 or NCL clubs, League One players can only go to NCL teams).
  • A dual registered player will be eligible to play and train with both clubs in a format agreed between the clubs, subject to registration, salary cap and competition eligibility rules.
  • The player is restricted to playing in one fixture per scheduled round of fixtures in any given week (for example, he would not be eligible to play for his Super League club on a Thursday and in a Championship fixture at the weekend).
  • A receiving club will be limited to a total of five dual registered players per matchday squad.

Clubs edit

Eight Super League clubs have announced dual registration partnerships for the 2024 season.

Super League club Dual registration club(s) Ref.
  Castleford Tigers   Batley Bulldogs [3]
  Newcastle Thunder [4]
  Catalans Dragons   Toulouse Olympique [4]
  Huddersfield Giants   Dewsbury Rams [5]
  Hull Kingston Rovers   Featherstone Rovers [6]
  Leeds Rhinos   Halifax Panthers [7]
  St Helens   Swinton Lions [8]
  Warrington Wolves   Widnes Vikings [9]
  Wigan Warriors   Wakefield Trinity [10]
  Midlands Hurricanes [11]
As of 18 March 2024

No Championship clubs have yet announced dual registration partnerships with League 1 clubs for the 2024 season.

References edit

  1. ^ "Debate continues over Super League and Championship dual registration". TheGuardian.com. 9 February 2013.
  2. ^ Walker, Callum (8 February 2024). "National Conference League issues groundbreaking law to allow clubs to field professional players". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  3. ^ O'Brien, James (30 November 2023). "Castleford Tigers to link up with Craig Lingard's former club Batley Bulldogs in 2024". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b Shaw, Matthew (14 March 2024). "Every Super League club's dual-reg partner as Championship season kicks off". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  5. ^ Olawumi, Ben (2 December 2023). "Huddersfield Giants enter dual-registration partnership with Championship club for 2024". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  6. ^ Olawumi, Ben (9 November 2023). "Super League outfit Hull KR announce dual-registration partnership with Championship big hitters Featherstone Rovers". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  7. ^ Shaw, Matthew (24 November 2023). "Leeds Rhinos land new dual-registration partner after link-up with local Championship club". Leeds Live. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  8. ^ Olawumi, Ben (20 December 2023). "Super League outfit St Helens confirm Championship dual-registration partners for 2024: 'There are benefits for both clubs'". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  9. ^ Olawumi, Ben (15 November 2023). "Super League outfit Warrington Wolves announce dual-registration with Championship club". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  10. ^ Darbyshire, Drew (8 November 2023). "Super League champions Wigan Warriors agree dual-registration partnership with Championship club for 2024". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  11. ^ Olawumi, Ben (12 January 2024). "Wigan Warriors announce second dual-registration agreement for 2024 season with League 1 club". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 18 March 2024.

External links edit