Jes, stop guessing and go direct to the RFL.
C1:4 OVERSEAS PLAYERS
DEFINITION OF OVERSEAS PLAYER
C1:4:1 (a) An “overseas Player” is one who cannot produce satisfactory evidence to the RFL that
he is a Professional Player in accordance with the EU Rules guaranteeing the free
movement of workers and that either:
(i) he is an EU National; or
(ii) he is entitled to be lawfully employed in England as a professional rugby league
player pursuant to a valid work permit and is a National of a country which is party
to either an Association Agreement, Europe Agreement or the Cotonou Agreement
with the EU; or
(iii) that he is a National of a country which is a current Full or Associate Member of
the RLEF and has been resident in that country for four years and is a bona fide
registered player who has played a minimum of five domestic league or cup games
in a domestic competition in that Full or Associate Member’s country.
For the avoidance of doubt a National is defined as a person who holds a current passport for an EU
member state or a country party to an Association Agreement, Europe Agreement or the Cotonou
Agreement as appropriate. Where a person claims to be a National of a country which does not issue
its own passports the RFL will review such a claim on a case by case basis but has no obligation to
decide whether a person is a National of such a country. In order to provide satisfactory evidence for
C1:4:1 (a) (iii) above the individual must hold and produce a relevant and current passport, the RLEF
member must provide records and testimony as to the player’s competition record and the RLEF must
certify that the information provided is correct and bona fide. The purpose of C1:4:1 (a) (iii) above is to
provide a performance pathway for talented players from the domestic competitions in RLEF Full or
Associate Member countries and in all matters of interpretation or judgement of this rule the RFL will
make decisions which are consistent with that purpose.
(b) Any Player who has, and who can prove to the RFL's satisfaction to have been, resident
in the EU for an aggregate of 270 days in each of five years prior to 31st December
2002 shall not be deemed an "overseas Player". For the avoidance of doubt, any
exceptions previously granted under this Operational Rule shall remain in force for the
remainder of the Player's career.
