Rugby league transfer record explained

The Rugby league transfer record is the highest-ever sum of money paid by a club to purchase the contract, and thereby obtain the playing services of another club's player. It has been broken in every decade since the sport became professional around the start of the 20th century. Between the 1930s and 1980s, international transfer bans were imposed, removed and renewed at different times due to the sport's governing bodies' fears of excessive talent drain overseas. In 1998, the sport's transfer system was changed to allow any player aged 24 or over to move between clubs at the end of their contract without a fee being paid.[1] [2] As a result, transfer fees in rugby league became much more uncommon. The current record fee paid is, paid by the New Zealand Warriors to the Wigan Warriors in 2013 for Sam Tomkins.[3]

Record progression

Year Player From To Fee (£) Notes
19011901 100[4]
19011911 300
19131913 600[5]
1921 1921 1,000
1930 1930 1,075
1934 1934 1,200
193719371,400[6] [7]
1937 19371,450
19471947 1,650[8]
19471947 2,000
1948 1948 2,650
1948 1948 2,750
1949 1949 4,000[9]
1949 1949 4,600[10]
1950 1950 4,750
1950 1950 5,000
19521952 Llanelli6,000[11]
1957 1957 9,500
1959 1959 10,650[12]
1961 1961 11,000
1961 1961
1961 1961 13,250[13] [14]
1968 1968 15,000 [15]
1969 1969 12,500[16]
19711971 15,000[17]
1973 1973 15,000
19731973 20,000
1978 1978 25,000 [18]
1978 1978 33,000
1980 1980 38,000[19]
1980 1980 40,000
1981 1981 72,500
1985 1985 150,000 [20]
1986 1986 100,000
1987 1987 130,000
1987 1987 150,000[21]
1987 1987 155,000[22]
19891989 170,000 [23]
1991 1991 250,000
1992 1992 440,000
1995 1995 500,000[24] [25]
2006 2006 450,000[26]
2013 2013 700,000

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hadfield. Dave. Rugby League: Super League delays decision on TV deal. The Independent. 1 January 2014. 25 June 1998.
  2. Web site: 'Bosman' deal for rugby. The People. 1 January 2014. 7 June 1998.
  3. News: Sam Tomkins to leave Wigan Warriors for New Zealand Warriors in world record deal after World Cup . Telegraph . 23 September 2013 . 24 December 2013.
  4. Web site: Baker. Andrew. 100 years of rugby league: From the great divide to the Super era. The Independent. 2 January 2014. 20 August 1995.
  5. Web site: Billy Batten. Hull FC. 1 January 2014.
  6. Book: Collins, Tony. Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain: A Social and Cultural History. 2006. Routledge. United Kingdom. 24. 9780203088357.
  7. This was a "signing on fee" and was at the time higher than the world record transfer fee.
  8. Book: Collins, Tony. Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain: A Social and Cultural History. 2006. Routledge. United Kingdom. 87. 9780203088357.
  9. Web site: Dooley. Dave. Stan McCormick. Saints Heritage Society. 4 March 2014.
  10. Web site: Wolves season review 2006. Warrington Worldwide. 4 March 2014. Gary. Skentelbery. January 2006 .
  11. News: skysports.com. Lewis Jones, Martin Offiah, Garry Schofield and Mick Sullivan to join the Rugby League Hall of Fame. 14 February 2014. Sky Sports. 31 October 2013.
  12. Web site: Lord Of The Wings. News & Star. 2 January 2014. 24 March 2006. January 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140103041500/http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/lord-of-the-wings-1.315215.
  13. Web site: Brian Shaw RIP. Leeds Rhinos. 1 January 2014.
  14. Shaw was signed for £9,500 cash, and included a player exchange deal which saw Leeds players Bernard Prior and Norman Burton join Hunslet.
  15. Dixon was signed for £12,000 cash, and included a player exchange deal which saw Salford player Mike Kelly join Halifax.
  16. Web site: Paul Charlton joins Workington Town Hall of Fame. News & Star. CN Group. 27 May 2014. 2 September 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140527213736/http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/town/paul-charlton-joins-workington-town-hall-of-fame-1.874263. 27 May 2014.
  17. Book: Collins, Tony. Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain: A Social and Cultural History. 2006. Routledge. United Kingdom. 127. 9780203088357.
  18. Hull player Jimmy Crampton joined Castleford as part of this deal.
  19. Web site: Casey named in Greatest Ever 13. Hull Kingston Rovers RLFC. 5 July 2014. 2 October 2012.
  20. Hanley was signed for £85,000 cash, and included a player exchange deal which saw Wigan players Steve Donlan and Phil Ford join Bradford.
  21. News: Richards. Martin. Lee makes up for those wasted years. The Mirror. 27 January 1997. London.
  22. Web site: Four living legends inducted into RL Hall of Fame. Super League. 25 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131227044659/http://www.superleague.co.uk/article/29153/four-living-legends-inducted-into. 27 December 2013. 31 October 2013.
  23. Castleford paid an initial fee of £145,000 for Steadman, and agreed to play an additional £25,000 if he played a Test for Great Britain.
  24. News: World record fee for Newlove . The Independent . 30 November 1995 . Dave . Hadfield . 24 December 2013.
  25. Newlove was signed for £250,000 cash, and included a player exchange deal which saw Saints players Paul Loughlin, Bernard Dwyer and Sonny Nickle join Bradford.
  26. News: Desperate Wigan capture Fielden for record £450,000 . The Independent . 22 June 2006 . 24 December 2013. Dave . Hadfield .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Rugby league transfer record".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.