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Rugby League

Cooke rules out ban appeal

14/12/2007

Hull KR stand-off Paul Cooke confirms he will not appeal a four-month ban from the Rugby Football League (RFL) for breaching transfer regulations.

Cooke, 26, was found guilty by the RFL of illegally approaching Hull Kingston Rovers while still under contract to their local rivals Hull FC.

At the hearing, which concluded last month, Cooke claimed he had resigned from Hull FC and was therefore free to negotiate a contract and register with another club.

However the RFL, despite initially accepting Cooke's registration as a Rovers player, determined the player had broken the rules by declaring he had no ties to Hull FC and banned him for a period of four months.

This means he will miss the first six weeks of the 2008 Super League season and will not be eligible to return to action until March 17th.

And despite speculation that Cooke would prepare an appeal against the ban, Hull KR have this morning confirmed no challenge would be forthcoming.

"Paul and the club are tired of the distractions caused by endless rumour and speculation in this story," a statement from the club reads.

"We detect that that is also very much the mood among our supporters.

"With that in mind we are not going to elaborate on the reasons for not appealing nor commenting on this issue any further other than to reiterate that if and when Hull FC decide to issue civil proceedings against Paul and/or the club we will respond at that time.

"We remain as confident in our position as we did at day one. Nothing in the RFL ruling causes us to change that view."

Hull KR added that both player and club "are eagerly looking forward to 2008", which would see "a continuing improvement in the fortunes of the club".

"We remain extremely confident of being awarded a Super League licence and securing a prosperous long-term future for the club and it is with that goal in mind where our energies and efforts will be directed," the statement concluded.