RFL dual registration

Dual registration within the RFL refers to an arrangement between clubs whereby a rugby league player within the Rugby Football League continued to be registered to their current club and was also registered to play for a club in a lower league. In was introduced for the 2013 season and discontinued at the start of the 2026 season.

The system was mostly aimed at young Super League players who were thought to be not quite ready to make the step up to first team duties but for whom first team match experience was likely to be beneficial for their development. This had also been extended to Championship teams dual registering with League 1 clubs.

Clubs in both the Super League and the Championships benefited from the new dual registration system which was introduced for the 2013 season. The system was intended to complement the existing player loan system.[1]

The scheme was extended in 2024 to allow players of Championship and League One clubs to appear for NCL clubs.[2]

In January 2026, the RFL confirmed the end of the dual-registration system and at the same time changing rules for player loans by reducing the minimum length to one week (previously it had been two weeks, reduced from month-long loans in 2021).[3]

Rules

  • All players can be dual registered and the receiving club must be a club in a lower tier (i.e. Super League players must go to either the Championship or League 1, and Championship players must to either League 1 or NCL clubs, League One players can only go to NCL teams).
  • A dual registered player will be eligible to play and train with both clubs in a format agreed between the clubs, subject to registration, salary cap and competition eligibility rules.
  • The player is restricted to playing in one fixture per scheduled round of fixtures in any given week (for example, he would not be eligible to play for his Super League club on a Thursday and in a Championship fixture at the weekend).
  • A receiving club will be limited to a total of five dual registered players per matchday squad.

Clubs

Eight Super League clubs announced dual registration partnerships for the 2024 season.

Super League club Dual registration club(s) Ref.
Castleford Tigers Batley Bulldogs [4]
Newcastle Thunder [5]
Catalans Dragons Toulouse Olympique [5]
Huddersfield Giants Dewsbury Rams [6]
Hull Kingston Rovers Featherstone Rovers [7]
Leeds Rhinos Halifax Panthers [8]
St Helens Swinton Lions [9]
Warrington Wolves Widnes Vikings [10]
Wigan Warriors Wakefield Trinity (-April) [11]
Barrow Raiders (May-) [12]
Midlands Hurricanes [13]

One Championship club announced a dual registration partnership with a League 1 club for the 2024 season.

Championship club Dual registration club Ref.
York Knights Newcastle Thunder [14]

References

  1. ^ "Debate continues over Super League and Championship dual registration". TheGuardian.com. 9 February 2013.
  2. ^ Walker, Callum (8 February 2024). "National Conference League issues groundbreaking law to allow clubs to field professional players". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  3. ^ "RFL calls an end to dual-registration". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3516. 26 January 2026. p. 3.
  4. ^ O'Brien, James (30 November 2023). "Castleford Tigers to link up with Craig Lingard's former club Batley Bulldogs in 2024". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b Shaw, Matthew (14 March 2024). "Every Super League club's dual-reg partner as Championship season kicks off". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  6. ^ Olawumi, Ben (2 December 2023). "Huddersfield Giants enter dual-registration partnership with Championship club for 2024". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  7. ^ Olawumi, Ben (9 November 2023). "Super League outfit Hull KR announce dual-registration partnership with Championship big hitters Featherstone Rovers". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  8. ^ Shaw, Matthew (24 November 2023). "Leeds Rhinos land new dual-registration partner after link-up with local Championship club". Leeds Live. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  9. ^ Olawumi, Ben (20 December 2023). "Super League outfit St Helens confirm Championship dual-registration partners for 2024: 'There are benefits for both clubs'". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  10. ^ Olawumi, Ben (15 November 2023). "Super League outfit Warrington Wolves announce dual-registration with Championship club". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  11. ^ Darbyshire, Drew (8 November 2023). "Super League champions Wigan Warriors agree dual-registration partnership with Championship club for 2024". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet explains decision to end dual-registration agreement with Wakefield Trinity and strike up deal with Barrow". 30 April 2024.
  13. ^ Olawumi, Ben (12 January 2024). "Wigan Warriors announce second dual-registration agreement for 2024 season with League 1 club". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  14. ^ "York Knights agree dual registration deal with Newcastle Thunder". York RLFC. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
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