NRL to ban players from NFL training after Valentine Holmes, Jason Taumalolo trials
NRL players will be banned from training with NFL clubs under a proposed rule and risk being banished from rugby league if they ignore the policy.
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NRL players will be banned from training with NFL clubs under a newly proposed rule and risk being banished from returning to rugby league if they ignore the new policy.
Fed-up club chief executives have called for the new clause to be included in every contract which will stop players from risking injury and also using the NFL as a marketing tool to increase their asking price.
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg has backed the stance, which was raised at a CEOs conference on Wednesday.
Under the new rule, North Queensland enforcer Jason Taumalolo and Cronulla Sharks winger Valentine Holmes would not have been allowed to attend an NFL testing camp last month in Los Angeles.
“The clubs have made it clear that they don’t want their players going to another code, including NFL, and risking serious injury,’’ Greenberg said.
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“That is a view the NRL shares — we don’t support players going off to play with or promote other codes.
“They are contracted to play with the NRL and we do not believe they should try their hand at another code and expect to come back to Rugby League if it doesn’t work out.’’
The new NFL clause would sit alongside a current rule blocking testing their ability in rugby union and AFL.
“We already have a clause in place prohibiting players going to play rugby union and AFL mid-contract and that will be extended to include NFL,’’ Greenberg said.
“It is great to see NFL clubs recognising what great athletes are produced in the NRL.
“But at the end of the day, they are paid to play Rugby League so we cannot let them risk injury and promote another code while they are registered with the NRL.”
In the case of Taumalolo and Holmes, neither were offered NFL contracts after failing to reach the necessary target times required to play America’s most popular sport.
Both off contract in 2017, the US trip was seen by rival clubs as a play from their agent to boost their asking price on the NRL open market.
Cronulla CEO Lyall Gorman welcomed Greenberg’s stance to protect the image of the NRL.
“At the time we supported Val,’’ Gorman said.
“But the NRL position is a whole of game one. It’s not about any individual but an overarching philosophy that protects the game’s brand and the elite talent within it at all levels.
“Our club fully understands and accepts that position.’’
Originally published as NRL to ban players from NFL training after Valentine Holmes, Jason Taumalolo trials