The RFL Board of Directors has conditionally agreed to accept the registration of Australian player Todd Carney as a player with Super League club Catalan Dragons.
The Board met last Monday to consider the application following what it described as “a detailed and considered process that involved interviews with Catalans Dragons officials, the player’s agent and the National Rugby League in Australia”.
The result is that the Dragons have been informed that the Board will accept the registration subject to the club and Carney agreeing to a series of conditions “specifically designed to address the player’s behaviour and assist with his rehabilitation”.
The conditions include the placing of a £50,000 bond which will be payable should Carney breach RFL Operational Rules or be convicted of a criminal act.
He will also be expected to participate in and complete a player welfare programme recommended by the RFL’s Welfare Director.
The bond will be forfeited, and the registration possibly revoked, should Carney fail to complete the welfare programme, or be found guilty of Misconduct under the Operational Rules (other than on-field misconduct), be found guilty by the relevant authorities in any jurisdiction with a criminal offence and/or be found guilty of any breach of the RFL’s Anti-Doping Regulations.
Under RFL Operational Rule C1:2:3 (b) the Board has the discretionary power to refuse a registration if they reasonably believe that to do so would bring the game into disrepute or adversely affect the integrity of the competition.
The Board can also refuse a registration under Operational Rule C1:2:3(h) if it believes that the player has been deregistered or had a registration refused for disciplinary reasons, or is under a relevant suspension or ban imposed by the RFL or another governing body of any sport in any part of the world. The Board do not believe that Operational Rule C1:2:3 (h) is applicable in this case as the NRL has not deregistered or refused to register Carney.
For more details on this story, read Monday’s edition of Rugby League Express.
