The National Rugby League is asking the Newcastle Knights to explain Danny Buderus’s decision to take on a coaching role with a Rugby Union side while continuing to play for the Knights.
The Knights veteran announced today he was taking on a coaching role with rugby union side – the ACT Brumbies.
The 34-year-old will work with the side one day a week helping them with tackle-specific skills until the 2013 NRL season kicks off.
Buderus says the offer was too good to give up.
“Coaching is something I’ve always thought would be an interesting way to keep a connection with sport once I’d finished playing and this opportunity certainly allows me to start the ball rolling,”
But the NRL says that neither the Knights nor Buderus had asked for permission to enter into a third party agreement “as his playing contract requires and as the club is required under Salary Cap Rules.”
“It is hard to envisage any circumstance where an agreement could be approved that allowed a current NRL player to promote another code competing in the same market as an NRL team.” said NRL Interim Chief Executive Mr Shane Mattiske.
“We will be seeking an immediate response from the Knights and as much as we respect Danny’s intentions we do not see any way in which the proposal can be pursued.”
The Knights released a statement earlier this afternoon which said “the final proposed agreement has not yet been seen by the Knights and needs to be submitted to and approved by the NRL to determine if the role can proceed.
“As Danny enters his final NRL season before retirement, we have encouraged him, as we do with all our players, to engage in wide ranging work experience in preparation for life after football,” Newcastle Knights CEO Matt Gidley said.
