Hunter Rugby president Glenn Turner has asked NSW Country for special dispensation to allow Wildfires front-rowers Dave Puchert and Kye Marshall to play for the Cockatoos in the Australia Rugby Shield (ARS).
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Puchert and Marshall play second grade with the Wildfires and were drafted into the Hunter representative side which finished fifth at the NSW Country Championship.
On Sunday, they were named in the Cockatoos side along with Maitland prop Harry Chapman, who played for Far North Coast.
However, NSW Country Rugby boss Steve O'Brien said the pair would have to quit the Wildfires and return to Merewether, whom they are aligned with but are yet to play a game for, to be eligible for the ARS.
Under the charter of co-existence formed by Hunter clubs when the Wildfires joined the Sydney competition Puchert and Marshall are not eligible to play in the local competition.
"We need a common sense response," Turner said. "The guys were drafted into the Hunter side to alleviate a front-row problem. They now understandably want to preserve their representation with Country. NSW Country aren't aware of the rules made by the local clubs around the charter of co-existence."
There is a similar situation in the NSW Country women's squad where Wildfires Emma Bradford, Trudi Peterson and Annabelle Leighton were among six Hunter players alongside Britney Duff, Mel Howard and Brooke Walklate selected.
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