So does this mean that Willie will not be able to play for NZ anymore?

International Selection doesn't appear to rely on such out dated concepts as nationality

Tongashop.com

Yes. They are all just as eligible to play as each other but counted as Quota players. Once Willie gets his Tongan passport, he'll then no longer be a quota player. But right now, he's just the same as any other. They've only de-registered another player so that they can get him playing now instead of waiting until his daft passport comes through. They've broken no rules.

Granted, him getting that passport is a complete joke. But what they've done here to get him playing isn't.

It'll be incredibly funny though if he now doesn't get that passport. It'll be interesting to see what they do once Dobson then regained fitness.

Anymore? Unless this was an obvious joke and it has gone over my head.

Or Mancunian, that's Ah Van Ah kid

I'm not sure that Mason is the biggest signing in Super League history to be fair.

I really don't see what the fuss is.

In fact, wasn't there talk of trying to get L'Estrange a french passport just so we could take advantage of exactly this situation? Or was that just silly board talk?

wow what a story,it all started when Ben Galea tried to get a maltese passport but couldnt in time so the rfl agreed to the Tonga route for Big Willie as his mum is Tongan so all ok there me thinks.Then becoz his tonga passport isnt here yet we dereged Dobbo to allow Mason to play while the passport comes thru.You couldnt make this circus up could you ?
Everyone wants Willie Mason in Super league,it will help this game of ours no end not just my team.Dont forget the RFL have agreed to this.
Just cant wait to see his 20 mins on sunday should be a hell of an occason !!!!

With Dobson de registered, he is effectively a free agent. So if any CE fancied waving a pile of used fivers under his nose, there is nothing the codheads could do about it.

Shame he isn't a prop though....

Apart from the tricky business of his contract.

What they have done is fine within the rules of the game. Within the spirit of the game

We don't have a leg to stand on with this though after bringing in Morley in 2005. interesting that the rules were changed after we did that though!

...and on further reading, it's possible they've fscked up in hilarious fashion.

one would assume they have already discussed situation with RFL and been told that board will give them a dispensation to re-register dobson this year. Be funny if other clubs kick a stink up and dispensation is withdrawn. wonder how good big willie is in the halves.

Except he's not.

Or are all the Rhino youngsters who aren't registered in the first team's 25 man squad also classed as free agents?

When they stop paying him, he may have a case for being a free agent. Since they haven't done, and they haven't released him, and haven't ripped up his contract, the idea of him being a free agent is complete nonsense.

You can change your 25 man squad at any point. They can de-register and re-register him any time they like without any dispensation surely?

The only problem arrives if Mason's dodgy passport doesn't come through in time. Then KR would have to continue with one of their quota players sat on the sidelines, not registered but getting paid.

just found this dilligaf. makes interesting reading. basically to re-register an overseas player in the same season you need a dispensation from RFL, which hull kr didnt bother getting. so potentially they could be unable to re-register dobson until next season.



[urlhttp://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/sport/HULL-KR-Dobson-s-free-agent-say-RFL/article-3319542-detail/article.html[/url

Can't see the logic in that. They have valid passports (from wherever) and a working visa and qualify under RFL rules. IF Mason needs a passport he hasn't got, that's personal to him; none of the others is 'short' of a passport enabling them to play.

Please see artical C1:2 Registration and Transfer of Players (Page 191) www.therfl.co.uk/operational_rules

Please see artical C1:2 Registration and Transfer of Players (Page 191) www.therfl.co.uk/operational_rules

Mason isn't short of a passport that lets him play either. He's just short of one that enables him to be "off quota". Hence why he's in the 19 squad for Sunday. Exactly the same as every other quota player in the league.




Now THAT makes interesting reading! And if true, and he is actually a free agent now, then I wouldn't be surprised if Mick Potter is interested. Wasn't it Potter that brought Dobson in at Catalans?

How funny would that be?

Everyone? Noone asked me if I wanted him in Super League. Or did I miss the questionnaire?

www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... ticle.html

www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... ticle.html

Having seen the latest statement by the RFL that KR seem to have agreed a special agreement to re-register Dobson, despite going against the RFL's own rules - should fans of all clubs (obviously except Rovers) not be requesting their club and directly to the RFL that this should not be permitted. The RFL law states that the rule is there to stop clubs stock piling overseas players and then cherry picking who plays on a weekly basis, yet in affect this is what Hull KR are doing. Seems to me they are not bending rules but shattering them - they already took the mickey by getting special dispensation to sign Mason on a Tongan passport (Blocking clubs such as Huddersfield / Salford who had a genuine quota space). Surely registering Mason to the RFL while keeping Dobson's contract should mean Hull KR have exceeded quota regulations and should not have been allowed to go ahead. If they are allowed to get away with this our game will desend into a farce. Why dont Wigan terminate Fieldens contract - sign a prop - Ewan Dowes for example - using Fieldens space on the cap, then simply when Fielden is fit, re-register and send Dowes back. (Fielden then gets paid for painting the chairmans fence while out of the game each month)

Dobson seems to be a topic on most fans forums - each agreeing he's a player that they would like at their club (me included) - what I want to see is each fan and each club not wanting to see Dobson in a KR shirt again this season (as the rules) and our games so called governors enforce the rules they create.

Failing that I urge Hull FC sign Greg inglis because I heard he drank a pint of Guiness once. Apparently he only needs £20,000 a year as his wife as a £300,000 a year cleaning job.

e-mail the RFL, e-mail your clubs - this must be blocked.

Thank you

^^
Hull fan by any chance?