Hull FC's Lewis Martin learns minute cap verdict as RFL confirm one major twist

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The RFL have confirmed that the minute caps for Super League players, which would see Hull FC winger Lewis Martin stood down later this season, are in play. However, there will be NO sanctions for clubs who don't abide by them.

In essence, the controversial rules regarding the number of minutes each player can play are in force - but clubs, as reported by Hull Live last week, won't adhere to the caps.

Hull Live reported how there has been little to no communication from the governing body to clubs on the player minute caps, which, if mandatorily enforced, would see Martin stand down for at least five games having been ever-present for the Black and Whites so far this season.

Martin, still only 20 years old, sits under the 'backs younger than 22 years old on 1 Jan prior to the season' category. Under the caps, he is allowed to play 25 full game equivalents, or 2,000 minutes, this season. To date, Martin has played in 16 games - or 1,290 minutes, including Hull's golden point period over Leigh earlier this year.

There are three other caps in place this season. They are as follows:

Backs 22 years old or older on 1 Jan prior to the season; 30 FGEs (2400 minutes) Forwards 22 years old or older on 1 Jan prior to the season; 25 FGEs (2000 minutes) Forwards younger than 22 years old on 1 Jan prior to the season; 20 FGEs (1600 minutes)

Meanwhile, all clubs were distributed documentation this week, with an email from RFL CEO Tony Sutton confirming that they were indeed in place, standing players like Martin, not to mention Junior Nsemba, down to comply.

But Sutton's email included a startling revelation: there will be no punishments for clubs who don't abide by them this year. The penultimate bullet point of the email reads: "If players exceed the limit, clubs must develop a clear action plan as to how they intend to reduce this (this does not need to be seen/agreed to by the RFL.)"

It is also confirmed that there are exemptions for international matches, meaning games played post-season will not be factored in, including this autumn's Ashes series between England and Australia - a series Nsemba is expected to feature in.

With no mention of sanctions, All Out Rugby League reached out to the RFL, and it was confirmed that there are no penalties in place this year should clubs not abide by them - with clubs understood to be unimpressed by the lack of communication until now.

CEOs were informed in the email of their responsibility to ensure the guidance is followed, pointing out the welfare of players and the science that proves it is in the best interest of their players' long-term health.

Sutton stated in his email: "It is important to flag to you, in your CEO role, the research that exists in this space and the need to take steps to manage risk wherever possible. All recent scientific studies that have investigated exposure to contact sports (or heading of a football for example) and brain health outcomes found a 'dose-dependent' relationship between sport exposure and the potential for various negative brain health outcomes.

"This was regardless of the cohort (e.g., American football players, Scottish soccer and rugby players), specific design or limitation of the study. Simply, athletes who had more head impacts or had longer careers had a greater risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases or chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)."