Hull Facing Cup Expulsion

Rugby league club Hull could be expelled from this year’s Challenge Cup after claims that they fielded an ineligible player in Sunday’s fifth-round win over Widnes.

Prop Jamie Thackray rejoined Hull from Leeds on 27th March, more than three weeks after the initial cup deadline.

But Thackray played in both the fourth-round win at Rochdale and Sunday’s 32-18 win over Widnes.

Hull have been drawn away to Bradford Bulls in the quarter-finals but if they are found to have breached the League’s bye-laws, they could be fined or even expelled from the competition.

Widnes chief executive Alex Bonney stated: ‘It’s a case without a precedent and it’s only fair to allow the RFL to make that decision. We have made it clear to them that on the grounds of contesting the result, we will not be making an appeal. We believe that on the day the better team won.’