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 RL 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.)