Leaf handed RFL suspension

Doncaster captain Shaun Leaf has been provisionally suspended by the RFL following allegations that he bet on his team to lose in the Challenge Cup last weekend.

A story in the national press this morning claims that Leaf placed a bet on his side’s defeat against Wakefield, which would be in breach of the RFL’s Operational Rules and a breach of the sport’s Betting Code of Conduct.

The RFL is also conducting an investigation into alleged breaches of Operational Rules and the Betting Code of Conduct prior to a Co-operative Championship fixture in 2009.

A statement said: “The RFL will be making no further comment on these cases until the conclusion of the investigations.”

It is alleged that Leaf bet on his own team to lose by at least 38 points against the Wildcats, while the 2009 investigation relates to an alleged £600 bet made on a Doncaster defeat against Toulouse in a Championship fixture.

In 2004, St Helens pair Sean Long and Martin Gleeson were banned for three and four months respectively after being found guilty of misconduct in placing bets against their team.