RFL dual registration explained

Dual registration within the RFL refers to an arrangement between clubs whereby a rugby league player within the Rugby Football League continues to be registered to his current club and is also registered to play for a club in a lower league.

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

Clubs in both the Super League and the Championships benefit from the new dual registration system which was introduced for the 2013 season. The new system is 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]

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 have announced dual registration partnerships for the 2024 season.

Super League club	Dual registration club(s)	Ref.
Castleford Tigers	Batley Bulldogs	^[3]
	Newcastle Thunder	^[4]
Catalans Dragons	Toulouse Olympique
Huddersfield Giants	Dewsbury Rams	^[5]
Hull Kingston Rovers	Featherstone Rovers	^[6]
Leeds Rhinos	Halifax Panthers	^[7]
St Helens	Swinton Lions	^[8]
Warrington Wolves	Widnes Vikings	^[9]
Wigan Warriors	Wakefield Trinity (-April)	^[10]
	Barrow Raiders (May-)	^[11]
	Midlands Hurricanes	^[12]

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

External links

• RFL 2023 Operational Rules, p. 93.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Debate continues over Super League and Championship dual registration. TheGuardian.com. 9 February 2013.
2. Web site: Walker . Callum . National Conference League issues groundbreaking law to allow clubs to field professional players . Total Rugby League . 21 April 2024 . 8 February 2024.
3. Web site: O'Brien . James . 30 November 2023 . Castleford Tigers to link up with Craig Lingard's former club Batley Bulldogs in 2024 . 13 December 2023 . The Yorkshire Post.
4. Web site: Shaw . Matthew . 14 March 2024 . Every Super League club's dual-reg partner as Championship season kicks off . 18 March 2024 . Yorkshire Live.
5. Web site: Olawumi . Ben . 2 December 2023 . Huddersfield Giants enter dual-registration partnership with Championship club for 2024 . 13 December 2023 . Love Rugby League.
6. Web site: Olawumi . Ben . 9 November 2023 . Super League outfit Hull KR announce dual-registration partnership with Championship big hitters Featherstone Rovers . 13 December 2023 . Love Rugby League.
7. Web site: Shaw . Matthew . 24 November 2023 . Leeds Rhinos land new dual-registration partner after link-up with local Championship club . 13 December 2023 . Leeds Live.
8. Web site: Olawumi . Ben . 20 December 2023 . Super League outfit St Helens confirm Championship dual-registration partners for 2024: 'There are benefits for both clubs' . 21 December 2023 . Love Rugby League.
9. Web site: Olawumi . Ben . 15 November 2023 . Super League outfit Warrington Wolves announce dual-registration with Championship club . 13 December 2023 . Love Rugby League.
10. Web site: Darbyshire . Drew . 8 November 2023 . Super League champions Wigan Warriors agree dual-registration partnership with Championship club for 2024 . 13 December 2023 . Love Rugby League.
11. Web site: Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet explains decision to end dual-registration agreement with Wakefield Trinity and strike up deal with Barrow . 30 April 2024 .
12. Web site: Olawumi . Ben . 12 January 2024 . Wigan Warriors announce second dual-registration agreement for 2024 season with League 1 club . 18 March 2024 . Love Rugby League.
13. News: York Knights agree dual registration deal with Newcastle Thunder . York RLFC . 12 March 2024. 7 May 2024.