No – they're employed by clubs. On fixed term contracts.

So why do some of them i know have accountants and have to fill in their own returns etc?

Because they want to be careful with their money and minimise their tax liability? Because they're in the 40% bracket? Because it's not just the self-employed who file self-assessment forms? And anyone with complicated finances (bonuses, additional income from marketing etc) would be well advised to hire an accountant for tax purposes?

But they are employed by clubs. That's why, eg, clubs can be taken to industrial tribunals by players.

But the main point about their time-limited contracts is that it binds both parties, unless there's a mutual agreement to end it.

When a club gets rid of someone (player or coach) part-way through , for instance, they have to either pay up the remainder of the contract, or at least pay compensation for it, or actually sack someone, showing they've breached their contract through gross misconduct or similar.

Similarly, if a player or coach simply ends their contract part way through, the club is entitled to seek appropriate monetary compensation, whether in the form of a transfer fee or from the player directly

All the NRL (and RFL) can do if SBW ends up in France is simply deregister him as a player if he signs with a French team. If he's silly enough to put all his eggs in one basket - i.e. Union - and risk ending up with nowt down the track, then he's an idiot.

Breach of contract is very serious for sports clubs - comparing their contracts to those offered in 'normal' roles is silly, and using terms like 'slavery' is a nonsense.

SBW signed a 5-year deal that made him very well paid. he did this VOLUNTARILY. No one forced him to sign. He did so because it made him a very well paid young man with a pretty secure futurel. And the Dogs would have planned the next 5 years including having SBW on a very high wage. It's partly the reason (not the only one) why they couldn't keep O'Meley and Mason - in fact IIRC they basically had to choose between Mason and SBW as their 'star' forward, and chose SBW.

It's possible (although maybe unlikely) that the ARU may back the NRL on this as if they are seen to back this sort of raid they could hardly complain if their own players were to do the same (making them ineligible for Wallaby selection, which is about the only stick they have to keep players).

In the end it's a team sport and the guy has really done the dirty on his friends. I don't know about anyone else but I'm not sure I'd be interested in signing someone who would do that sort of thing anyway.

According to nrl.com Toulon are saying that they haven't spoken to him in months (and Willie Mason's backtracking on his statement that he wouldn't switch!).

sonny bill is boxing in brisbane next month . 1st pro fight . mundene's undercard

expect him in SL next season

how ?? he was banned from rugby league

Seems to be doing ok at Toulon now, watched a youtube video of him playing there and the atmosphere was surprisingly very good. Luke Rooney scored a try as well.

Thought it was just the NRL?