CIRCULAR 290

TO: QRL Division Managers Competitions and Operations Manager

COPY TO: Juniors’ Operations Officer

DATE: 29 September 2009

RE: Policy on Dual Registration of Players ______

Introduction

QRL Rule 22 currently prohibits a player or coach from lodging a Player’s Agreement or Coach’s Agreement with more than one Club in a football year. At its meeting on Friday, 17 April 2009 the QRL Board of Delegates considered a recommendation from its Game Development and Major Competitions Advisory Committee that the Rule be amended so that an exemption may be applied for and granted by you in your absolute discretion where you believe that the player’s circumstances comply with this League’s policy on dual registration. The QRL Board of Delegates subsequently approved the following revised QRL Rule 22:

22. Any player or coach signing a Junior Player Registration Form or a Player’s Agreement or a Coach’s Agreement with a Team, Club or Local League whilst he/she has a Junior Player Registration Form or Player’s Agreement or Coach’s Agreement with any other Team, Club or Local League will be in breach of these Rules and the later Junior Player’s Registration Form or Player’s Agreement or Coach’s Agreement will be null and void.

An exemption to this Rule may be approved by the relevant QRL Division where the Manager (or Competitions and Operations Manager in the case of QRL Statewide Competitions) considers in his/her absolute discretion that the player’s circumstances comply with the QRL’s policy on dual registration and circulated in writing from time to time.

Policy

Under QRL Rule 22, a player may register with more than one Club for the current football year where dual registration is explicitly provided for in a Competition’s Conditions approved by the Division and/or the QRL, or the Local League and/or Division approves a specific dual registration arrangement. Any player seeking to dual

register must obtain the written approval of the Club that he/she is already registered with, ie the Club holding the primary registration.

Set out below is a list of dual registration arrangements approved by the League and any conditions associated with those arrangements.

1. NRL Club and State Competition Club - As provided for in the Cup Conditions, each competing Queensland Cup team is eligible to apply for dual registration of players who are contracted to a Club in the National competition and who are included on that Club's player list registered with the NRL. All such players must lodge a completed QRL Player's Agreement with the QRL Competitions and Operations Manager prior to competing in the Queensland Cup. Each Queensland Cup Club may have a dual registration arrangement with only one NRL Club. 2. NRL Club and Local League Club - A Local League and Division may approve an arrangement that allows a Local League Club player to dual register with an NRL Club. 3. State Competitions Clubs - The QRL may from time to time approve dual registration arrangements between two specific State Competitions Clubs. 4. State Competitions Club and Local League Club – The Queensland Cup Conditions state that where a State Competitions Club does not have lower grade teams for its excess of nominated players, a dual registration procedure for players is to be effected in consultation with the respective Local League and/or Division. This must be lodged through the Local League and/or Division to the Managing Director of the QRL prior to the commencement of the Competition and then remain firm, with all Clubs being aware of existing policies. Alternatively, a Local League and Division may approve an arrangement that allows a Local League Club player to dual register with a Statewide Club. 5. Senior Local League Clubs - The League’s policy on dual registration due to special work circumstances, both within a Division and across Divisions, is contained in Circular No. 274. 6. Senior Local League Club and Junior Local League Club - A player may dual register with a Senior Local League Club and a Junior Local League Club subject to the approval of the player’s primary Club. 7. Junior Local League Clubs - In special circumstances (eg children at boarding school who wish to play for their “home” Club when at home for holidays, free weekends, etc, children registered in a Competition which conducts matches on a “cluster day” basis, or where divorced/separated parents have joint custody), a Junior player may dual register with two Junior Local League Clubs provided that (a) the Clubs cannot be in the same Local League, (b) the player can only play for one Club on a given weekend, (c) the player may only participate in finals matches for the Club holding his/her primary registration, and (d) the player is eligible to play representative rugby league for his/her primary Club’s Local League and Division.

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8. Queensland Junior Local League Club and a NSW Club - As in 7 above with the added proviso that the parents with joint custody must live in different States. Any such dual registration arrangement requires the approval of the relevant State Leagues. 9. A Queensland “Junior Reps” Club/Team and a Queensland Local League Club - A player wishing to participate in either the Cyril Connell Cup or the Competitions (referred to as Queensland Junior Reps) must be registered with a Local League Club and must dual register with the Queensland Junior Reps Club in the manner prescribed from time to time. This dual registration arrangement is subject to the following conditions: (a) the player may play in only one competition on a given weekend, (b) the player’s registration with the Queensland Junior Reps Club finishes at the conclusion of the Club’s participation in that Competition, and (c) the player must return to his Local League Club if not selected to participate during the Competition. 10. A Queensland “Junior Reps” Club/Team and an interstate Club (eg Gold Coast JRL and Kempsey JRLFC). Any such dual registration arrangement requires the approval of the relevant State Leagues. 11. A Local League Club and a University Club playing in the Universities Rugby League competition. A player may dual register with a Local League Club and a Club participating in the Universities Rugby League competition subject to the approval of the player’s primary Club.

A player wishing to dual register under arrangements 5 to 8, 10 and 11 above must obtain the approval of his/her primary Club. An Approval Form for this purpose is attached.

Please circulate this advice to all Rugby League Bodies and Personnel within the Division so that they are fully aware of and adhere to the Board’s decisions. The revised Rules are available on the QRL website.

ROSS LIVERMORE MANAGING DIRECTOR

DUAL REGISTRATION APPROVAL FORM

I ______being a player registered with the ______Club in the ______competition in 20__ hereby apply for permission to dual register with the ______Club in the ______competition for the 20__ season.

I acknowledge that the ______Club will remain my Primary Club for the 20__ season.

______(Name) (Signature)

Date: / /

Approved Yes No (please circle one)

______(Name) (Signature)

______(Club) (Date)