Halifax hooker Proctor handed lifetime ban

A promising young Halifax player has been banned for life after being sent off during a match in which he was not even allowed to play. Stuart Proctor, a hooker who was Halifax's under-21 player of the year last season, was found guilty of gouging in Brighouse Rangers' National Conference Second Division match against Millom in October. As a registered professional, Proctor was not eligible to play in that game, but did so under an assumed name.

Now the competition's disciplinary committee has suspended him sine die, which will effectively halt his professional career, along with another Brighouse player, Jarrod Morris, who was found guilty of biting in the same match.

Both players have the right of appeal. Failing that, there are previous instances of players supposedly banned for life who successfully apply for reinstatement after two years. Brighouse face a hearing next Tuesday at which they will have to explain playing unregistered players.

Australian Test hooker, Cameron Smith, has won Rugby League World 's Golden Boot, as the outstanding international player of the year. He edged out GB captain, Jamie Peacock, and Australian scrum-half, Johnathon Thurston.