Hey now!! Let's everybody just breathe a little...
With regards to the GPS 3rd Grade situation...
- GPS fielded a team with a majority of players who had been playing in 1st and 2nd Grade throughout the year - FACT
- Why they were playing in 1st or 2nd Grade is irrelevant for the purposes of dispensation as detailed in the QRU rulebook.
- GPS fielded a team with a number of players who had played mostly for Reserve Grade and included Premier Grade experience - FACT
- Those said players had never played for 3rd Grade - FACT
- The competition rules are on the Reds Website - FACT
- How or why those rule were misinterpreted is irrelevant.
- GPS are appealing being disqualified from the 3rd Grade Competition, which costs $$. - FACT
- Why are they appealing?; very good question. They feel they have grounds to appeal. Were they misled? Maybe. An administrative error is doubtful.
Calling a spade, a spade; there are really only two conclusions that can logically be made:
1. GPS knowingly flouted
2. they were misled by a person or persons that should have been relied upon to have known the rules and the interpretation of the rules, hence why they feel they have grounds to appeal.
What is the end result?
If GPS appeal is upheld, then will they be allowed to run out a team that should be clearly ineligible to play 3rd Grade? With players who have not played for 3rd Grade and have not played lower than 1st Grade all year?
I don't think that is the right result either.
Personally, I see that all Clubs and their supporters are truly passionate about their clubs and the game at large. It is obvious to me that the rulebook needs tidying up; especially if you need to engage a lawyer to interpret them.