York chief calls for dual-registration restrictions

James Gordon

York’s General Manager Ian Wilson believes dual-registration should be restricted to players aged 23 or under, or for those who have played less than 50 Super League games.

The dual-registration system has been subject of much criticism in recent weeks, after Warrington’s Paul Wood turned out for Swinton, and Richard Moore and Kylie Leuluai were dual-registered with Hunslet, although the latter was prevented from playing due to visa restrictions.

Following changes to the set-up below first team level, Super League clubs were encouraged to partner up with Championship sides, and are able to send up to five players to play in any one weekend.

It has led to several clubs hitting out at the new system.

Wilson said: “I can sympathise with those clubs who cannot dual register players due to the fact that they are not in a formal partnership with a Superleague club, and would support this rule being changed.

“However the main issue in my opinion is around which players from Super League clubs are allowed to play in the Championships. For me the number of players allowed (five) is reasonable, and in reality is only one more than clubs were allowed previously. The only difference is that the players can all be from the same club, whereas previously clubs could only have three players from any one club. 

“Again in my opinion, a rule should be introduced to prohibit players either over the age of 23 or those who have played in say more than 50 Superleague matches from being Dual Registered.

“From a York City Knights point of view this is how we have been operating our partnership with Hull FC and I believe that we are working to the underlying principles of why the new Dual Registration was introduced, which was to provide talented young British players with a suitable pathway to reach the highest level they can.”