gets a new one year deal.



I personally would have thought at least 2, also he still qualifies for special dispensation by the RFL against the quota rules, as he lived in the UK before he was 21 and counts as a federation trained player.

Good stuff and very well deserved.

At the start of the season I didn't think he would be able to do enough to earn a new contract, but he's done more than that in making himself a valuable member of the first team.

Well done Rhys.

Good news, really earned it this season.

Good news. Been our best prop this season. Disappointed it’s only 1 year though.

does that count for the rest of his career or is it reviewed with every new contract?

I was thinking that. Maybe that's why he's only got a year extension? Maybe he needs to prove himself worthy of a quota spot for his next deal? Maybe I have no idea what I'm talking about?

I thought that for a player to go from non-fed/quota to federation trained, they have to had been signed with a club for a number of years (3?) before they were 21?

Seems abit daft that in theory you could move here aged 20 and 11 months and a month later be classed as fed trained. I'm most probably wrong, that's just how I was told it worked.

I believe he will always count as fed trained, even if he goes to another SL club, its nothing to do with nationality, as has happened with british players trained in Aus, they were originally classed as overseas players, Its nothing to do with nationality or visa's, its what it says on the packet Fed [urltrained[/url.

Bingo!

It might also be due to him not having played 1st grade, before he joined Rovers. Crunulla and St George zero appearances.

You are correct about the 3 year rule for home grown players.

However, an exception to this is that anyone who was under 21 and playing in this country before the new rule was introduced also counts as home grown for the club they were with at the time. (That is why Scott Murrell counts as home grown even though he didn't do 3 years at Rovers whilst under 21.).

For players coming through the ranks now they will indeed need to be at a club for 3 years whilst under 21 to count as home grown (doesn't matter which country they were born in though).

Still a bit confusing re. Lovegrove though because the HDM didn't say he counted as home grown, only as a federation trained player. The age 21 thing is only relevant to home grown players so I think a bit more detail is needed.

Are you two the Chuckle Brothers?

Chuckle Cousins actually.

To me to you....

Very good.

We don't do Divet's

As Rhys explains in todays HDM he enjoys playing with the pressure of having to play for a contract it keeps him motivated where others would worry an injury may effect his earning capacity, Rhys just sees the positives and will more than likely happily sign an extension next season too but things do change and he's well aware he has to play well for that to happen.

Im sure he will,the lads been quality for us this season and im delighted hes signed an extension to his contract.

Its a brave thing to do!

Players normally prefer long term contracts to protect themselves from something out of their control ie serious injury which god forbid doesnt happen.

A one year deal suits the club more in that they have a player playing for his future but on the other hand if Rhys improvement continues then he is not tied in I suppose.

One thing with Rhys is that although he loves to play the game and enjoys his job he doesnt see Rugby League as the be all and end all. Not too long ago he seriously contemplated following in his mothers footsteps and joining the RAF if a contract hadn't been forthcoming. He has deffinately been endeared to HKR and is fully enjoying his rugby at the moment as he did in his first year at the club.

Lets just hope his son gets his mothers looks eh!!!!!

I'm a big fan of Rhys. His attitude is top notch and his performances and progress on the field match that. If he carries on at the rate he is he'll be one of the top young props in the league.

Really good news this.
Rhys has been impressive every time he has donned the rovers colours this season, his go forward has been second to none and if he carries on in the same mode next season the sky's the limit for the lad.

Rovers stand out prop when fit this season. Great signing.

I see from the official website that Lovegrove does indeed count as homegrown and not just federation trained.

That is good news but might explain why Lovegrove has only wanted a one year deal.

Soon Rovers will need no less than 8 homegrown players in their 25 man squad. That is a very difficult thing to achieve without weakening the squad.

The point being that if Lovegrove left you couldn't just go out and get a similar standard player from elsewhere. You'd have to replace him with a kid from the academy who probably isn't ready yet.

That's a very good bargaining position for Lovegrove to be in.