Rebels earn "Old Hands" reprieve

Former Finnish international Jarno Kosonen will ride in the Conference League for the first time this weekend for Somerset at Mildenhall after escaping being classed an "Old Hand" by the BSPA last week.

The Rebels have been angered over the unclear "old hands" ruling that has restricted their line-ups so far this year. But at last Thursday's meeting with the BSPA and all Conference League clubs, everything was cleared up and the criteria has now been stated: 1.Clubs can ride only one "old hand" in a team. 2.Riders are classified as an "Old Hand" if they have ridden 150 matches in a higher league (i.e. Elite/Premier, formerly Division One/Two, British/National)

This now means Somerset have two riders classed an "old hand": Steve Bishop and Malcolm Holloway.  The decision to let Finland's Jarno Kosonen ride has stirred up the most controversy, infuriating several CL promoters, not least Rye House's Len Silver. Despite riding in the Elite and Premier Leagues, as well as past Internationals, he does not meet the "old hands" criteria, but the league has always been proud of its unwritten rule of not riding any foreigners in the league, agreed by all promoters, until now.

Somerset promoter Laurence Rogers claims he was not part of that agreement and has completely ignored the league's morals, which has been abided by all promoters, even from clubs like Rye House and Sheffield who came into the league after the agreement.