Featherstone Rovers given hefty punishment for ‘incidents’

The RFL have reached an agreed decision with Featherstone Rovers following incidents of supporter misbehaviour which breached the RFL’s Operational Rules in their Betfred Championship Play-Off fixture against Halifax Panthers on October 2.

The club has been fined for failing to use Best Endeavours in terms of supporter behaviour, with the club to spend the sum of the fine on high-profile support of the RFL’s Tackle it and Enjoy the Game campaigns related to discrimination and supporter behaviour.

A suspended fine of £3,000 imposed following a previous case of supporter misconduct in the 2021 season has been activated, and the club have been fined an additional £5,000 with that punishment suspended until the end of the 2023 season.

It follows the news that Featherstone halfback Dane Chisholm has been handed an eight-match ban for an alleged derogatory slur in a game against Oldham during the 2021 season.

The incident was reported to the Rugby Football League (RFL), who launched an investigation before deciding to charge Chisholm with using “discriminatory language and conduct”.

The Featherstone halfback was then found guilty at a tribunal hearing, but the 31-year-old has vigorously denied any such incident took place and will subsequently appeal.

If upheld, the ban would see Chisholm miss the first two months of the Championship season as Rovers attempt to finally reach Super League after losing two Million Pound Games in the past.