Wednesday 3 June 2015 17:10, UK
Super League clubs have voted to introduce a marquee player rule for 2016.
The controversial proposal, which had been rejected three times in the last two years, was finally given the go-ahead at the Super League annual meeting in Manchester on Wednesday.
Super League Chief Executive Nigel Wood welcomed the decision, which follows a lengthy period of debate and consideration by the sport’s elite clubs.
He said: “I would like to congratulate the clubs on both their foresight in approving the marquee player proposal and for the mature and responsible way in which they have reached their decision.
“The clubs recognise that the salary cap continues to have an important regulatory function and the marquee player allowance provides a level of flexibility that will benefit both Super League and the wider sport.
“The ability to recruit one marquee player each will enable the clubs to enhance the talent pool within a competition which has a proud record of developing outstanding world class talent.”
Under the terms of the salary cap rule amendment, clubs will be entitled to sign one marquee player who will have a notional value on their salary cap register of either £100,000 if club trained or £175,000 if non-club trained.
Clubs will only be allowed to sign a marquee player if they meet clearly-defined affordability criteria based around their income and expenditure.
The move was originally proposed by Salford chairman Marwan Koukash before being taken on in a modified fashion by Warrington.
Koukash said on social media: "Fantastic day for Super League. The marquee player rule got voted through."
Four clubs - thought to be Wakefield, Castleford, Hull and Huddersfield - were understood to be against the proposal but the vote received an 8-4 response in its favour; a simple majority was all that was needed for it to be passed.
