Dismayed Bulls chairman Peter Hood admits the RFL’s latest rule “fudge” is too little too late for some players clubs want to retain.

The RFL has given Super League outfits dispensation to extend contracts of any “non-federation players” over and above the current limit – providing they were under contract with them before club-trained player rules were introduced in February.

Bradford are privately furious as it is understood they wanted to keep centre James Evans for 2009 but hadn’t offered a deal, believing they needed to reduce that “non-federation” quota.

The Australian now qualifies for dispensation but the ruling was only changed by the RFL on Thursday with the Bulls having moved well down the line in their recruitment plans elsewhere.

Likewise, Evans is believed to have been snapped up by Castleford, although nothing can officially be confirmed until after the anti-tampering deadline passes on Monday.

Frustrated Hood believes most Super League clubs will be in a similar position with the RFL continually changing the goalposts on their non-federation stance due to legal issues.

“This is the latest in a number of fudges that the RFL have invented to try and reduce pressure they have been put under by players’ representatives as a consequence of these new rules,” he said.

“It’s just a huge pity that the RFL could not have come up with this one sooner.

“While it is by no means a perfect solution, they might have reached it sometime earlier rather than a matter of hours before the crucial date of September 1.

“What it means in practice is that several clubs who were unable to make an offer to a player may actually now be able to do so.

“However, he is likely to have arranged and committed his future elsewhere - when he might well have decided to stay if this rule had been brought in quicker.”

The club-trained player rules were designed to try and reduce the number of overseas players in Super League while increasing home-grown talent.

Clubs can only have eight non-federation players next season, reducing to seven in 2010 and down to just five in 2011.

After a threat of court action, the RFL handed English-born but Australian-raised Bulls player Simon Finnigan special dispensation to come off the quota in June leading to a first adjustment to the ruling.

But earlier this month they also reprieved Leeds Rhinos’ Simon Worrall after being challenged again on a different grey area.

This week’s announcement is believed to have arrived on the back of a further test from Hull KR’s Papuan Stanley Gene.

The former Bradford player, 33, has been playing in England since the 1995 World Cup, but faced the possibility of being squeezed out at Rovers had he been classed as an overseas player.

The Henderson brothers - Castleford’s Andrew and Wakefield’s Kevin - have also questioned the legality of the new rules with regards restraint of trade and are now free to extend their stays.

“I still think there will be more legal challenges to this whole shooting match of fudges,” added Hood.

“This won’t be the end. Indeed, it could potentially be the beginning of the end of the entire regulation.”

However, RFL operations director Emma Rosewarne said: “The RFL believes granting this dispensation will maintain the integrity and positive advantages of the club-trained player rules but at the same time give the appropriate degree of flexibility to players whose careers have been fully developed within our professional competitions.”

If clubs chose not to renew contracts the dispensation would immediately expire and it will also expire at the end of any contract extensions so players can’t carry it over if they move elsewhere; for example, should Evans join Castleford, he will be classed as a non-federation player.

But the ruling could work in the Bulls’ favour with leading try-scorer Semi Tadulala.

The Fijian, 30, is yet to agree a new deal for next season but this should make it easier for the club to retain his services.