Ben Barba: Flouting the rules or genius move?

French Rugby club Toulon shocked the NRL world last night by announcing the signing of Shark premiership-winning fullback Ben Barba for the rest of the 2017 Top 14 season.

The superstar number one signed a new one-year contract with the Sharks after completing a stint in rehab, but the NRL is yet to register the contract.

Should the NRL register his contract, and despite the delay it looks almost certain that he will be allowed to return to the game, he will sit out the first twelve rounds of the 2017 season due to suspension.

The deal allows Barba to both train with, and represent, the Toulon rugby club up until just a week or two prior to his NRL ban ending.

Social media erupted with many accusing Barba, and the Sharks, of dodging NRL rules to allow Barba to return to the Sharks with a degree of match fitness.

The Sharks would likely have been aware of the deal, having signed Barba two weeks ago, but I honestly have no idea of how much influence, if any, they had in the deal being organised.

If they did, then this could potentially be one of the most genius moves we have seen in recent times.

Knowing that they can’t get Barba’s suspension shortened, the Sharks can send one of their prize assets to France to play competitively and have a fully fit and firing Barba on deck upon his return from suspension.

The NRL have no say as to whether Barba can or cannot play elsewhere as he is not a contracted NRL player.

The NRL imposed ban is also not applicable anywhere else as Barba violated an NRL rule by testing positive for the second time, and must serve an NRL-imposed punishment.

Has Barba, either with or without knowledge of the Sharks, worked the NRL perfectly to enable his return to benefit both himself and the Sharks?

Or has Barba’s decision blatantly flout the rules?

Should he be forced to serve a 12 game ban from the moment his stint in France ends rather than simply the first 12 rounds of the season?

Baraba’s decision may be seen by the NRL in a negative light and may even have a bearing on his contract status. Technically he would be an NRL player should the contract be signed off on, do they really want a registered NRL star off playing in the rival code?

We don’t know for sure, but maybe the NRL aren’t going to re-register Barba and this is his next career move?

There is no guarantee he will return to the Sharks even if the contract is registered first thing tomorrow morning.

Right now no one seems to have any answers, just more questions.

This news has shocked me and thrown me completely for a loop. I have no idea what is going on, what to expect, or what has just happened.

Rugby league, don’t ever change.