#RLNewEra - Dual Registration

One burning and seemingly unresolved issue is that of Dual Registration. That marriage of convenience between two clubs that seemingly no one really wants to embark on but circumstances have often made it necessary and even fit some worthwhile.

Here's what the Q & A says (not a great deal!):

Q. Will Championship and League One clubs still be able to enter into dual registration partnerships with Super League clubs?

A three-way working party with representatives from Super League, Championship and the community game has been formed to look into how best to protect the integrity of the leagues whilst ensuring that there are minimal barriers to stop players having regular competitive playing opportunities.

We do know a bit more than this though. From what has been said on the press we expect it to be retained in 2015 at least, but the number of players a dual reg club can field each week  will be cut to three, and no dual reg players will be allowed to feature in the all important Super 8s stage, when promotion and relegation actually gets decided in the New Era.

Dewsbury have come out and said they aren't looking for a dual reg relationship in 2015. You can't expect that Bradford, London and Leigh will have one as they will operate full-time with the idea of having a club fit for Super League itself central to their thoughts. Featherstone are traditionally against it and unlikely to continue with it. Halifax don't use the system and question marks have to be raised over what Doncaster and Batley might do have been burnt by dual reg small print this season.

Before we give opinion on this, let's examine what dual registration is, or at least had been, during it's relatively brief existence.

“Dual Registration” is the system whereby a Super League Player continues to be registered to and be eligible to play for his current Super League Club and is also registered to play for a Championships Club. 

The purpose of this Rule is to provide an enhanced Player development pathway for young Super League Players who are not thought to be ready to make the step up to Super League first team on a permanent basis but for whom first team match experience in the Championships is likely to be beneficial for their development. It is intended to provide additional flexibility for Clubs to make arrangements that suit the Player’s development needs whilst protecting both the playing squad requirements of the Clubs concerned and the integrity of both competitions. The purpose of this Rule will be taken into consideration if an issue arises that is not expressly provided for in these Rules.

The rules in short are that an approved DR partnership must exist between the Super League and non-Super League club. Only players aged 18 and over with appropriate visas can be dual registered. No more than five combined DR and loan players can feature in a Championships club match day 17. There are then of course the newly high profile rules about playing 3 games by the registration deadline to keep being DR eligible of earning over £20k. More comprehensive details are found in the RFL Operational Rules.

So what's the SLP take on this? Well here's Mark's view.

Let's be frank, our talent pool is fairly thin and even thinner is the depth of funding that allows for widespread professional environments for our talent to develop in. For that reason I always thought DR was a good thing in theory.

In practice it's been a bit different. I'm no fan of it being used simply to get established first teamers back to fitness. The main controversies coming through the Warrington-Swinton link up, but it has happened elsewhere from time to time. I also don't really like it being used for the championship clubs taking whatever they can get week by week with their own contracted part-time players missing out at the last minute.

Some sort of balance needs to be struck if the system is to stay long term. In my view their should be a maximum dual reg player age as well as a minimum. The other option is the parent club can only identify 10 players in their squad who can be taken on dual reg in the season, maybe with the chance to review that list half way through.

The other factor to consider in the new era is that the structure could in theory mean dual reg linked clubs play each other. The solution at the moment is that dual reg can't be used in the Super 8s. In my view the ultimate objective of the new era should be to create an environment where more clubs can develop off the field to work towards full time set ups where they have their own production line and squad depth. The continued existence of dual reg somewhat undermines that idea, although let's face it, so does the way funding works and the inclusion of promotion and relegation with the third tier.

My answer would be to remove it from the Championship and only use dual reg at League 1. Resources there are very low but the level of competition is still pretty high. The Super League players aged say 18 to 23 will get a chance for senior competition that they can grow in whilst they are still cementing their place at the top level. The poor clubs get the benefit of rich club's players to fill their own gaps come injuries or suspensions.

Something may have to be done to allow more freedom or flexibility in the loan system for Championship clubs but I suppose that's another matter.

What about what you guys have said:

kev critchley @wembley98: @SuperLeaguePod no dual reg. better off scrapping back to loans only

justannie @annieandmorris: @SuperLeaguePod no dual reg. 

London Faithful ‏@LondonFaithful: @SuperLeaguePod I think we should make dual reg for players 21 and under and you have to be at the club for 2 games minimum. 

IAN GATWARD @gatwardian: @SuperLeaguePod dual reg system is there for abuse especially when the divisions get split

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