That's quite a grand name for a law which prevents clubs approaching players coming out of contract at a rival outfit until after August 31.

Since the Bosman case of the late 1990s, players have had freedom of movement at the end of a contract. In other words, clubs can no longer demand a transfer fee for an out-of-contract player unless he's aged under 22 – a clause designed to prevent clubs losing youngsters who have come up through their academy system.

By the letter of the anti-tampering law, once August 31 has passed clubs can hold talks with, offer terms for the following season to and even sign players who are still under contract to a rival club.

Of course, nobody takes a blind bit of notice of the rule. Anyone with a keen interest in rugby league could name at least a dozen deals which are already done and dusted for next year.

Clubs don't stick to the anti-tampering rule, because nobody else does. Though contracts signed before September 1 aren't actually enforceable, realistically any club foolish enough to wait until after August 31 to begin recruiting would find that all the best talent has already been snapped up.

Teams know their players are being tapped up, but they aren't going to make a complaint because they are up to the same thing.

Club officials won't openly admit to breaking the rule, that would be asking for trouble, but nobody makes too much effort to hide what's going on. Wait until September 1 and you can guarantee that signings will be announced that day.

Clubs which do that must be quick workers.

The idea behind the rule is to prevent the sort of anarchy which might occur if players and clubs were free to talk at any time. In theory, players could sign for a rival side while they still have a couple of years left on their current deal, which they'd be expected to fulfil.

So there's some sense behind it, but in practice the August date is too late in the year and the RFL may have trouble justifying the legality of it were a player, or club, ever to challenge it in court.

Players want their future sorted out and they can't be expected to wait patiently until the end of August before planning where they will be working next year.

Australia's National Rugby League had a similar rule, but that was scrapped for the simple reason that it didn't work. If common sense prevails, it won't be long before the RFL does something similar, or at least brings the date forward.

The anti-tampering rule, of course, does not apply to signings from the other side of the world. Thus, early this season, Wests Tigers were able to sign Gareth Ellis – under contract at Leeds until the end of 2008 – on a long-term deal beginning next season.

And likewise, Rhinos moved quickly to snap up former Aussie Test captain Danny Buderus from Newcastle Knights as early as March, a full 11 months before he'll make his competitive debut.

Both players have managed to put that to one side and have got on with business for their current club – and there's every chance they'll be facing one another in the World Cup in a couple of months' time.

Of course, neither player will be facing the club they are about to join this year, but generally players – especially the good ones – are professional enough to handle that sort of challenge.

Jamie Peacock's move from Bradford to Leeds was announced in September, 2005. The following month he skippered the club he was about to leave to Grand Final glory against the one he was set to join after inspiring Bulls' sensational charge through the play-offs from third spot in the final league table.

Transfer gossip is good for the game. Speculation over who's going where fills column inches in the newspapers and gives fans something to talk about.

The hot topic at the moment concerns Paul Cooke's future at Hull KR. one of the game's most gifted players, Cooke's transfer to Craven Park from derby rivals Hull was arguably the biggest news story of last season.

Little more than a year on, it all appears to have turned sour, with Cooke dropped from the Rovers side for their last couple of games and coach Justin Morgan warning that he won't get back in until he changes his off-field ways.

Cooke – who has two years left on his contract – has been linked with several Super League clubs, but Wakefield Trinity Wildcats would seem the most obvious destination should he leave Hull KR. Wildcats boss John Kear coached Cooke to great and Challenge Cup final-winning effect at Hull and has a reputation for taming the sport's so-called bad boys.

Kear has confirmed that he'd be keen to bring Cooke to Belle Vue, if the terms are right – though he has played down speculation that Jamie Rooney could move the other way in a player exchange.

Mid-season moves seemed to be a thing of the past, particularly at Super League level, but after last year's controversy, Cooke seems to be reviving a dying art – and in terms of creating a talking point, that's a good thing.


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BRADFORD BULLS – who play Leeds at Headingley Carnegie tomorrow night – settled down in their London hotel last Saturday, where they were preparing for the following day's clash with Harlequins, to watch Sky's coverage of Rhinos' clash with Warrington Wolves.

It's a tradition on weekend away trips for the Bulls players and coaching staff to hold a sweepstake, with money in the pot for whoever draws the name of the TV game's first or last try scorer. Strapped for cash, hooker Wayne Godwin had to borrow a quid off Terry Newton to enter and promptly drew Leeds prop Kylie Leuluai.

Mirth amongst his team-mates turned to uproar when his unlikely pick not only scored the game's first try but also added its final touchdown – netting Godwin a tidy sum.

But at least he gave Newton his pound back.