Hull KR man Matt Parcell says quota rules need to change for Super League.
Parcell moved to Super League in 2017, signing for Leeds Rhinos, and has been a quota player ever since.
Under reported upcoming rule changes, however, he wouldn’t be classed as a quota player now.
Currently, clubs can have a maximum of seven ‘non-Federation trained players’ in their squad – and these players are defined as those that didn’t play three seasons of rugby in Europe before they turned 21.
Now, this rule seems to be set to be relaxed slightly, as Super League looks to compete with NRL.
The new rule changes set to come into effect in 2026 will see quota players become exempt if/once they have spent six consecutive years as a Super League player.
This may be affected by citizenship status, but there are some conflicting reports.
Hull KR man argues that Super League quota spot rules need to change
Credit: SWpix.com
Asked about the incoming rule change about being off-quota if you’re a UK citizen – which Parcell is – he said: “I definitely agree with the rule. I think it’s a long process to get citizenship. You don’t just have to be like five years here and you get it.
“It’s not even five years, it’s pretty much a minimum of six and a half years and that’s if you do everything on the spot. So I think if you’re committing six or seven years to the Super League, in your prime years, then I think you deserve to be on the quota.
“You’ve sort of committed yourself to the competition and you’ve come over here and really the bulk of your career is going to be played in the Super League. So I think that is a rule that probably should have been brought in earlier, but I think it is a great rule.”
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
Speaking on him becoming a citizen, the Hull KR man said: “It’s quite a big process. As I said, I did everything on the dot and it took me about six and a half years.
“So there’s a few rules there if you’re married to someone, it can change. But in general, it’s going to take someone pretty much seven years of being in the Super League before they’ll become an off-quota player.
“Clubs sort of help you get your permanent residency but then there’s no incentive to the club to help them get citizenship because you still take up a quota spot. So I think the rule in general will be good to the boys.”
