CRL Statement: Player Development Fees

In relation to recent comments made on social media, Country Rugby League would like to provide the following clarifications regarding Player Development Fees.

• Player Development Fees are a nationally endorsed and supported policy by all state governing bodies (CRL, NSWRL, QRL, and Affiliated States), the National Rugby League and its participating clubs.

• Country Rugby League does not receive any of the money provided from Player Development Fees. All Development Fees are distributed to the respective junior club (s) and league (s) at the rate of 80% to the club (s) and 20% to the league (s).

• The Development Fees policy is  administered by the governing league (e.g. CRL, NSWRL, QRL, NZRL) responsible for the administration of the competition that the respective players’ junior club (s) participates in.

• Development Fees provide fair compensation to junior clubs and leagues for the development investment of a player and encourage the continuance of that investment by recruitment clubs.

• Development Fees aim to discourage recruitment clubs from stockpiling players.

• Once a player initiates a Junior Representative Agreement (registration form), the applicable Development Fee is generated.

• All respective stakeholders (e.g. clubs competing in Junior Representative Competitions in NSWRL / QRL) are aware of their obligations to Player Development Fees.

• Player Development Fees have been in place since the 1990’s.