Former Leigh player hit with ban for betting

The RFL hav e confirmed that former Leigh player Andy Thornley has been banned from all involvement in rugby league until June 1, 2015.

This is as a result of Thornley having been found guilty of breaching the game’s betting rules.

Thornley admitted placing a large number of bets on Rugby League matches via various betting accounts when he appeared before an independent tribunal on Thursday evening.

Some of these matches included games involving Leigh Centurions.

The tribunal found Thornley to be in breach of the following RFL Operational Rules:

“D1:10(c) No Betting. No Person subject to these Operational Rules shall be involved in any manner or capacity whatsoever, whether for his or its own account or on behalf of any other person, in any Betting in respect of any Rugby League Match or Competition or otherwise breach the Betting and Related Activity Code of Conduct as set out in E5 of these Rules.

“E5.3.1.1.1 Placing, accepting, laying or otherwise entering into any wager, bet or other form of financial speculation with any individual, company, organisation or other body in relation to the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any Match, Competition or Event

“E5.3.1.3.1 Using in relation to Betting, or providing to any other person for use in relation to Betting, any information relating to any Match, Competition or Event(s) that the Person has in his possession by virtue of his position within the sport and that is not in the public domain or readily accessible by the public without unreasonable restriction, save in the proper performance of that Person’s duties including but not limited to providing information to the Compliance Manager

“E4 Respect Code – Player: Do not bet or otherwise financially speculate, directly or indirectly, on the outcome or any other aspect of a rugby league match or competition in which you are involved.”

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