Keighley coach fails in bid to loan himself out

Banned Keighley player-coach Paul March has been blocked from making a loan move to Championship One side Hemel Stags.

March, 34, is currently serving a two-month stadium ban for comments he made to a match official, which forbids him from entering a stadium Keighley are playing in until July 8, including Thursday night’s Challenge Cup quarter-final against Widnes.

He had hoped to maintain match fitness by turning out for Hemel in their games against Oldham on Sunday and Gloucestershire All Golds on July 6, after a statement on the club’s official website claimed that “Under the terms of Paul’s two month stadium ban, he is not banned from playing unless it is for the Cougars.”

But the RFL are reported to have put a block on the move.

The next Keighley game that March will be available for is the home Championship clash with Workington on Sunday July 13.