19 Feb 2009

Marshall's plan to play rugby union stymied by NRL

10:49 pm on 19 February 2009

The planned move by Kiwi international Benji Marshall to rugby union has been stymied by the National Rugby League.

Marshall, who's off contract with the Wests Tigers at the end of the season, wanted to temporarily jump codes to play in Japan without finalising a new deal with the Tigers, then re-sign for the club when he returned early next year.

But NRL chief executive David Gallop says moves like the one Marshall's proposing aren't permitted under the salary cap.

Gallop says he can't think of a business which would allow one of its star performers to go work for the opposition in the off-season and Marshall simply needs to decide who he wants to work for.