Sheffield Eagles boss Mark Aston banned for 18 months over player welfare breach
A Rugby League tribunal found Aston liable for allowing player Matty March to play after suffering a head injury
Sheffield Eagles head coach Mark Aston has been banned from any coaching or team selection roles in rugby league for 18 months after breaching the sport's player welfare policy.
A Rugby Football League tribunal found Aston and club physiotherapist Mick Heys guilty of allowing player Matty Marsh to appear for the Eagles after a head injury without having received the necessary medical clearance.
The bans were imposed by an independent Operational Rules Tribunal following an RFL compliance investigation.
An RFL statement read: "The alleged breaches concerned the appearance of Matty Marsh for the Eagles in their Betfred Challenge Cup tie at Wigan Warriors on March 22, 13 days after he had suffered a head injury during a Betfred Championship fixture against Swinton Lions, and without having received the necessary medical clearance to return.
"The ORT's decision was conveyed to Mark Aston, Mick Heys and Sheffield Eagles on October 22, as follows: Mark Aston has been suspended for 18 months, from coaching in Rugby League or holding any senior position within the sport which might involve any influence over team selection, until April 30, 2026.
"Mick Heys has also been suspended for 18 months, from holding a medical position in Rugby League - but six months of his sentence has been suspended for 12 months, in recognition that he 'admitted his conduct at the outset' and 'has apologised and expressed significant remorse' - meaning his suspension runs until October 31, 2025."
The Eagles, who finished seventh in the Betfred Championship, said they were taking advice.
A club statement read: "The Sheffield Eagles were notified of the outcome of the ORT held on Thursday 17th October, as outlined in the RFL statement released at 2pm (on Thursday).
"Given the verdict, the club will make a formal statement once it has fully considered the verdict, and taken the necessary advice on how to proceed."
Aston won the Challenge Cup as a player with the Eagles in 1998 when they upset Wigan, winning the man of the match's Lance Todd Trophy.
He co-founded a new Sheffield Eagles club in 2000 following an unsuccessful merger with Huddersfield and became player-coach.
After retiring as a player in 2004, Aston briefly stepped down as head coach and resumed in the role in 2007.