R.B.A wrote:Fitzhenry leaving gives Rovers a quota space available next season. I expect it to be filled or i dont see the sence in releasing Fitzhenry. Unless, off course, we have signed a yet to be named British hooker.
This season the allowance for overseas trained players is 8. (Rovers have actually been running with 7 due to the early departure of Crossman).
Next season the allowance goes down to 6.
We already have 6 overseas trained players who are contracted for 2010 (Newton, Galea, Webster, Dobson, Vella and Fisher).
That's why Fitzhenry must leave. That's also why Rovers cannot sign any more overseas players unless one of those 6 leaves early. Also bear in mind that for season 2011 the allowance is down again to 5 so someone else must leave in another year also.
Some people seem to think that Vella & Fisher are exempt but that doesn't seem to be the case. Certainly neither Rovers or the RFL have ever made a statement to that effect.
The only foreign players we have been told are exempt are Lovegrove, Aizue and Gene.
There have been lots of rumours that Jake Webster is going home early. If he does then he opens a quota spot and he could be replaced from overseas.