Quota players

Quota players is a term in sport referring to the limit of foreign players on a domestic team.

Contents

Rugby League

Each English Super League team is allowed to have three foreign players. Harlequins Rugby League are permitted four quota players as they are considered to be a non-heartland team. The Welsh team Crusaders is allowed 14 overseas players and French side Catalans Dragons are allowed eight non-French players.

Championship teams are only allowed one quota player, aside from Toulouse who have five foreign players.

Exceptions

There are three exceptions for a player to avoid quota player status. Those are listed below:

1. When a player has played for a rugby team for six years, he is eligible to gain British citizenship and does not count under the quota.

2. If the player has a passport for any EU nation or a Kolpak nation.

3. If the player is from a Kolpak nation such as Samoa or Tonga.

Evolution

Each club is allowed

2008

At least 5 home grown players.

No more than 5 overseas quota players.

No more than 10 overseas trained players inc the 5 quota players.

Rest of the squad to be from players trained within the same federation.

2009

At least 6 home grown players.

No more than 5 overseas quota players.

No more than 8 overseas trained players inc quota players.

Rest of squad to be from players trained within same federation.

2010

At least 7 home grown players.

No more than 5 quota players.

No more than 6 overseas trained players inc quota players.

Rest of squad to be from players trained within same federation.

2011

At least 8 home grown players.

No more than 5 quota players.

No more than 5 overseas trained players inc quota players.

Rest of squad to be from players trained within same federation.

KEY

Home grown players - any player still under 21 and/or has completed 3 years service with the same clubs academy set up.

Same federation - any player still under 21 and/or has completed 3 years service with other clubs academy set ups within UK (for UK SL clubs) or France (for Catalans etc.)

Overseas quota players - as per current rules i.e. Anyone unable to prove origins within EU or Kolpak countries.

Overseas trained - any other overseas player (EU passport or Kolpak etc.)

Current Super League quota players

External links