Mark Aston, the coach of the Sheffield Eagles, was found guilty of a major violation of rugby league’s operating laws and was given an 18-month ban.

Following allegations that Eagles player Matty Marsh played for the team against Wigan Warriors in their Challenge Cup match in March without obtaining the required medical permission to recover from a head injury, Aston and the club’s physiotherapist, Mick Heys, were subject to a tribunal.

Sheffield will have to look for a permanent coach in 2025 since Aston will not be eligible to coach or hold any senior rugby league role that could have an impact on squad selection until April 30, 2026.

Heys was also suspended for 18 months, however six of those months were lifted after he “apologised and expressed significant remorse” and “admitted his conduct at the outset.” He is barred from holding a medical role in rugby league until October 31 of the following year.

“These are very serious breaches of the Operational Rules designed to protect the welfare of those who play the game,” stated Tribunal Chair HHJ C Batty in his sentence. The consequences for violators of these regulations must be severe for the reasons mentioned above.

“In both codes of professional rugby, head contact has grown to be a significant problem. In order to reduce the frequency of head contact and its effects on players, both codes have acknowledged the necessity of implementing rule modifications, safety measures, and medical protocols. The procedures used are the outcome of extensive study and discussions with numerous medical professionals. They are acknowledged as the bare minimum required to guarantee players’ safety.

The regulations are specific, in-depth, and above all, must be strictly followed. Those who play, coach, manage, and run the teams in the game, as well as those who offer medical help during the game, are accountable to the RFL for making sure that these rules are followed. They are a minimum requirement for player wellbeing, as previously mentioned.

The Graduated Return to Play procedure, or GRTP, is a rule that was purposefully created to be supervised by a physician or other suitably competent healthcare professional. A final determination of a player’s availability and, consequently, fitness can only be made by those who are considered qualified. A player’s risk of developing long-term neurological or cognitive issues could rise if they resume contact without first undergoing the proper evaluation.

The GRTP is a safeguard in the Medical Standards, which are a significant component of the Operational Rules, and it should be closely followed, as the RFL correctly explains in their skeleton. The welfare of players is and ought to be the first priority. Those that break the rules will have to answer for their actions.

Aston has 14 days from the verdict date of Tuesday, October 22 to file an appeal. His historic tenure as head coach of Sheffield appears to be coming to an end, unless he choose to do so. Since 1999, he has had an almost flawless tenure as the Eagles’ coach.

However, following a significant violation of the sport’s rules regarding head contact, his future in the game now seems to be seriously in doubt.