Can't see a problem with this at all. I'm actually surprised he hasn't been training with them throughout the entire ban.

It's been said for a long time that he would be starting to train a couple of months before he can play. He is barred from competing, not from getting closer to match fitness. All that's happened is what has been known for a while would happen.

And yes, you can be "in charge" if the keys are in the ignition. This would only relate to being drunk or drugged in charge, as for the moving road traffic offences you have to be moving, and for the construction offences, in the main, you have "use" of it if it is on the road, and certainly sitting in it would probably suffice if you have custody and control of the vehicle.

You are not automatically in charge if the keys are in the ignition, but it is a major factor. For instance, if you are outside your own home, drunk, listening to music in the car, then you would be able to rely on the statutory defence that you were not going to drive when over the limit, because you could just go inside. If, however, you were parked on a country lane three miles from home, then it would harder for you to prove (it is for you, as the driver, to prove that you were not going to drive it when over the limit, although only on the balance of probabilities). Everything is weighed. Was the engine turned on? Was your seat belt on? Lights on? Where were you? Where had you been? Were you going to go anywhere?

That's your legal advice for the day. That will be two thousand pounds please.

Did you get all that imfo when you were researching for your book? you should have been a solicitor instead.

Good luck to the guy. Being petty and over zelous regarding this does no one any credit. A man has ben deprived of his livelihood whilst accepting a deserved punishment. No whinging or whining from him in the press - just got on with doing his time. His time is nearly up and Im all for giving the guy a clean slate and wishing him luck. I dont know how the wording of the ban was framed but I see no problem with him coming back to training unless it breaches these terms and that all players in similar positions receive the same treatment.

give him a break and goo luck to him in all but his games against WTRLFC

Do players still get dope testers turning up while they are banned?

Excellent question. I would imagine that if they have been sacked and are without a club then probably not but in Hock's case who still has a club i am not sure.

They must get tested, otherwise you could get banned for 2 years and just spend that time on the 'roids. Come back 24 stone and be able to run 100 meters in 7 seconds!

He has served his punishment and rightly so. The ban from playing will be for 2 years. The RFL are not in a position to uphold the ban, the policies of WADA of which the RFL are members govern the ban.

I personally think Wigan have handled the situation very well, they have supported Hock throughout the time he has been off by monitoring his behaviour. The first 6 months of his ban he basically was undertaking hard labour in the community, since that point he has been offered support and assistance and also has been undergoing random drug test. He has also been involved in community projects and been given a mentor to guide him through his ban. I do not think I will shock anyone to say he is limited, I understand he has been diagnosed with learning difficulties in this period via the mentoring process.

I also understand he has been training the house down on his own, with the aid of a personal trainer and will be returning to the game significantly larger than when he started his ban.

Hopefully this will turn out to be a real positive in his life not just a negative and not just for his rugby.

I am a solicitor as well (a prosecutor), although you're not the first person to say that I should try something other than writing.

If he needs match fitness and can't get in the wigan team send him our way i say or if he does get in at someone else's expense then send them our way.

It could also unsettle a few of their players too which would work against them? perhaps?

No problem with him training whatsever. Made a mistake, aslong as he has learnt from it, then he should be free to train and begin playing as and when the ban is over.

Its a long time to go without a salary mind. Would i be right in thinking Wigan may have unoficialy supported him financially also???

There is no restriction on him taking a regular job - like a sports shop sales assistant for example - no ISC that was the previous regime

May be wrong but I think he has been working with the Wigan community program I seem to remember reports coming out for the first 6 months he basically got the worst hardest jobs getting up at the crack of dawn etc, but it was a test to see if he stook with it prior to moving on to less physically, but perhaps more emotionally demanding tasks such as the drug education in school all with the assistance of an ex military mentor.

Do you have a link for that?

No mate no specifics its just snippets I am sure i have read regarding it over the last year or so.

Cant say that I've come across your book yet, whats it called anyway? I have noticed though that from time to time some of your posts tend to drift of the subject, just an observation btw not a criticism.

I'm not being facetious by the way - I work in LD and it would be of great interest to me if it were the case.

Shouldn't speculation on anyones private life remain private unless made open by the person involved?

I'm not speculating; jonh is a Wigan fan and he said in a previous post that Hock had been diagnosed with a learning disability whilst serving his ban. It seems reasonable to assume that he's repeating information that he's seen in the public domain, rather than betraying any confidences; I'm asking for sources, not gossip.

Did not think you were mate.

Quote ="bren2k"I'm not being facetious by the way - I work in LD and it would be of great interest to me if it were the case.'" www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/ma ... NTCMP=SRCH A little snippet about his learning. To appreciate the scale of this transformation, it is necessary to understand Hock's position at the time of his ban. "He's a level one/level two learner – that's a learner who really struggles with numeracy and literacy and has no confidence whatsoever in his reading or writing ability," says Lee Robinson, a former army sergeant who has been Hock's mentor for the past 15 months.

Quote ="bren2k"I'm not being facetious by the way - I work in LD and it would be of great interest to me if it were the case.'" www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/ma ... NTCMP=SRCH A little snippet about his learning. To appreciate the scale of this transformation, it is necessary to understand Hock's position at the time of his ban. "He's a level one/level two learner – that's a learner who really struggles with numeracy and literacy and has no confidence whatsoever in his reading or writing ability," says Lee Robinson, a former army sergeant who has been Hock's mentor for the past 15 months.

Very interesting and enlightening article.
Certainly makes you think.

after reading that it sounds like he realises what he has missed out on and with Terry's passing knows that he has been very lucky to be given a second chance.

good luck to him when he's served his ban, hope he can get back to his best again

Agree, everyone deserves another chance.

Hope he does well 2nd time around.