Why Keegan Hirst's rugby league return has been put on hold until 2023 after Batley Bulldogs move

Rugby league registration rules have put a halt on Keegan Hirst's return to the sport until next year. Hirst announced on Monday that he was coming out of retirement to re-sign for Batley, having trained with the Championship club for the past month.

He was even named in their squad to face Sheffield Eagles on Wednesday, but the Bulldogs and Hirst have now been informed that the prop will be unable to feature in that game or any of their forthcoming fixtures across the remainder of the season. The recent transfer deadline passed on 22 July, though it does have a loophole to allow players who have been without a club for three years to sign up and play with immediate effect.

However, Hirst's last appearance in the professional game was in October 2020, meaning he does not reach the three-year threshold and as such, has to now wait until 2023 for his first appearance back in the sport. Batley coach Craig Lingard admitted, however, he hoped Hirst would remain with the club and become a part of their playing squad next year.

"I did not realise the stipulation about the registration ruling," Lingard told the BBC. "I could register myself or anyone off the street, so I am not sure why it is three years, why not one, two or four?

"We are going to have to abide by it, there is nothing we can do about it. The chairman is in dialogue with the RFL, but it doesn't look like it will change. We hope he will carry on training with us this season and be ready for next season."

Hirst said in a statement via Sky Sports on Monday: "Covid added to my own personal circumstances which made me lose touch with some of the things that I hold dearest to me; friends and rugby league. After the recent thinly-veiled homophobia over a rainbow shirt,