Leaf faces RFL over betting claims

The 27-year-old centre has agreed to meet the Rugby Football League as they investigate claims made in a national newspaper that he illegally backed opponents to win games against the South Yorkshire club.

Leaf allegedly gambled £200 at 10-11 that his side would lose Sunday’s Carnegie Challenge Cup tie against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats by more than 38 points – there is also a claim he made a similar bet in 2009.

He has been suspended by the governing body with immediate effect pending the outcome of their investigation.

Leaf did not play in the Wakefield fixture due to a thumb injury and it is hoped it was simply foolishness on his part.

However, given Wildcats scored an interception try in the last minute to win 50-10 which saw his bet come to fruition, it is certain the governing body will wish to reassure supporters that the allegations do not stretch to match-fixing.

Stunned Doncaster officials have also pledged to co-operate fully with the RFL as it was claimed Leaf also backed his team-mates to suffer defeat in Toulouse two years ago.

He told the paper he lost £600 when the French side were two points away from winning by at least 48.

Doncaster chief executive Carl Hall, who is also the Championship One club’s main shareholder, said: “I’m shocked but there’s not much more I can say at this stage.

“We’re working closely with the Rugby League and, when their full investigation is completed, we will make a statement. I’ve been told that’s all I can say.”

Former Great Britain captain Garry Schofield has urged the governing body to get tough with Leaf if the allegations are proven – calling for a lifetime ban.

In 2004, St Helens players Sean Long and Martin Gleeson were each fined £7,500 for betting on their under-strength team to lose by more than eight points in a Super League match at Bradford.

Long, who was among a host of players rested by coach Ian Millward for a Challenge Cup-tie a week later, was handed a three-month ban while Gleeson, who played in the game at Odsal, was suspended for four months.

But Schofield told the Yorkshire Post the RFL have to look at harsher consequences.

“The RFL have got to put their foot down,” he said. “If Leaf is found guilty then they should throw a lifetime ban at him. He will have brought the game into disrepute for his fellow players and would deserve that punishment.

“There needs to be scope to do that to make sure they can do.

“Anything else suggests to others that they can get a free go.

“Doncaster would be right to sack him if it is true as he will have tarnished the club and the game as a whole.

“The game is already looking for new sponsors for the Super League and the World Cup and it can do without publicity like this.

“I don’t think gambling like this is rife in the sport at all and it shouldn’t worry but there has to be a deterrent to others.

“I thought Long and Gleeson should have got three-year suspensions back then and a lifetime ban would certainly make players think twice. The RFL need to act quickly. We don’t want this dragging on.”

The governing body, which shares information with UK-based and off-shore bookmakers while also liaising with the Gambling Commission, say they are investigating an alleged breach of their operational rules and the sport’s betting code of conduct.

They are also looking into an alleged breach of regulations surrounding a Championship fixture in 2009.

Professional players are banned from betting on any games of rugby league, not just those involving their own club.

“The RFL will be making no further comment on these cases until the conclusion of the investigations,” said a spokesman.

Doncaster chairman John Scarrow confirmed the club would be carrying out their own internal inquiry.

“The club consider this a serious matter,” he said. “We will be thoroughly investigating it in a proper and timely manner.”

Wakefield coach John Kear had no qualms with the display of their opponents in Leaf’s absence last weekend.

“We turned up there and we played in good faith,” he said.

“We played a team that I thought was highly committed and very competitive

“I thought they played very well. It might be a naive young lad who’s transgressed the rules but I’m sure that will be investigated by Doncaster and the RFL and that’s that as far as I’m concerned.”