Sheffield Eagles boss Mark Aston handed unprecedented ban vows to clear his name

Sheffield Eagles nine fable Mark Aston, present 57, has been suspended for 18 months for breaching the RFL's payment argumentation and aesculapian standards with an HIA issue

Sheffield Eagles manager Mark Aston has vowed to wide his sanction aft being deed with an 18-month prohibition for breaching the RFL's payment argumentation and aesculapian standards.

He faced an RFL Operational Rules Tribunal past week aft it was alleged Matty Marsh faced Wigan successful March’s Challenge Cup necktie without having aesculapian clearance to instrumentality pursuing a caput wounded suffered antecedently versus Swinton. The tribunal has present delivered its verdict and recovered the nine legend, who has coached Sheffield for astir 2 decades, guilty.

Aston, 57, said: "Having discovered the result of the hearing, I americium people disappointed with the findings and volition present research each my options successful a quest to wide my name.

"During my 25-year career, I person been arrogant to clasp an unblemished grounds and subordinate payment has ever been of the utmost value passim that time. I tin lone ever enactment connected the accusation astatine my disposal. For now, I would similar to convey the radical closest to maine who person been truthful supportive passim a precise hard period, and I tin corroborate that I volition contention the verdict of the complaint and proceed to combat successful bid to beryllium my innocence, wide my sanction and instrumentality to the assemblage I emotion the most."

Sheffield primitively suspended Aston and physio Mick Heys connected July 29 connected a ‘no-fault basis’ amid an RFL probe into the aesculapian compliance matter. Aston famously won the Challenge Cup with the Eagles arsenic a subordinate successful 1998, causing the competition’s biggest daze successful its past by beating the mighty Wigan.

He claimed the Lance Todd trophy arsenic antheral of the lucifer astatine Wembley, made much than 350 appearances for Sheffield, has been coaching them since 2007 but besides fulfilled a fig of off-field roles, including CEO and manager of rugby aft co-founding the caller nine successful 2000.

Ex-Ireland brag Aston volition beryllium suspended from coaching successful immoderate capableness until April 30 2026. Heys has besides been suspended for 18 months, from holding a aesculapian presumption successful rugby league. But six months of his condemnation has been suspended for 12 months, successful designation that helium “admitted his behaviour astatine the outset” and “has apologised and expressed important remorse,” meaning his suspension runs until October 31 2025.

An RFL connection besides stated: “Following a Rugby Football League compliance investigation, an autarkic Operational Rules Tribunal was convened connected October 17 to see alleged breaches successful March 2024 by Mark Aston and Mick Heys, who were respectively caput manager and caput physiotherapist astatine Sheffield Eagles.

“The alleged breaches acrophobic the quality of Matty Marsh for the Eagles successful their Betfred Challenge Cup necktie astatine Wigan Warriors connected March 22, 13 days aft helium had suffered a caput wounded during a Betfred Championship fixture against Swinton Lions, and without having received the indispensable aesculapian clearance to return.

“Sheffield Eagles were a enactment to the Tribunal and the RFL expects to scope an Agreed Decision with the Club pursuant to Operational Rules and pending the result of immoderate entreaty process which is apt to impact a sizeable good and a monitoring, betterment and acquisition plan.

In imposing the sentences HHJ C Batty, the Tribunal Chair, wrote: "These are precise superior breaches of the Operational Rules designed to support the payment of those who play the game. For the reasons acceptable retired supra the penalties for those who breach these rules indispensable beryllium significant.”

Aston famously won the Challenge Cup with the Eagles arsenic a subordinate successful 1998, causing the competition’s biggest daze successful its past by beating the mighty Wigan.

He claimed the Lance Todd trophy arsenic antheral of the lucifer astatine Wembley, made much than 350 appearances for Sheffield, has been coaching them since 2007 but besides fulfilled a fig of off-field roles, including CEO and manager of rugby aft co-founding the caller nine successful 2000.

Eagles were faring good towards the apical extremity of the Championship but tailed disconnected dramatically aft Aston’s suspension and failed to marque the play-offs.