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RFL to ‘reconsider’ disciplinary system changes following criticism

Referee Chris Kendall showing the yellow card to Elliot Minchella of Hull KR in Super League disciplinary

The RFL have confirmed that they will ‘reconsider’ aspects of their new disciplinary sentencing guidelines.

A new disciplinary points system was made public last week by Keighley Cougars, with the League One club moving to explain the changes following Brad England’s Grade A charge. The system will see players collect disciplinary points for offences over the course of the season.

As such, only when players have reached a certain amount of points will they become eligible for a ban. However, the system has attracted criticism due to players’ disciplinary records being carried over from last season leaving some players facing hefty bans for their first offences of the new season.

In a statement issued to the media, the governing body has moved to explain that clubs were consulted about such changes last year but following negative feedback, the historic charges element of the new system will be reconsidered. The RFL have also confirmed that a final version of the guidelines will be made public at the start of February, in the build up to the third round of the Challenge Cup and a week or so before the new Super League season gets underway.

A statement read: “All clubs were circulated with changes to the on-field sentencing guidelines for 2025 in mid-December.

“These guidelines are for Betfred Men’s and Women’s Super League, plus Betfred Championship and League One.

“The changes followed consultation with clubs at all levels in the mid-season regulatory meetings in May 2024, and ratification by the RFL’s Laws Committee – which includes representatives from clubs, coaches and players – followed by approval by RFL Board.

“While there is support for the broad direction of travel, following feedback from various levels of the sport, the RFL has agreed to reconsider some of the detail of the changes, specifically relating to historic charges (from the 2024 season).

“The final version of the guidelines will therefore be published in the first week of February, before the Third Round of the Betfred Challenge Cup, and following a scheduled meeting of Laws Committee on January 29, which is followed by the RFL Board – as well as further consultation with clubs and other stakeholders.”

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