Shaun Leaf was suspended by the Rugby Football League after claims that the captain from Doncaster made a bet against his own team, and rugby league betting fans have been surprised when they heard about this.

Rugby league betting services found out that Leaf, 22-years-old, got in trouble after he allegedly made a wager of £200 against the Dons prior to their defeat by Wakefield in the Challenge Cup, and many fans have been concerned.

The RFL also said it was holding investigations over alleged violations of Operational Rules and the Betting Code of Conduct before the Championship fixture that took place in 2009.

Leaf was not able to play against Wakefield due to an injury to the thumb, as found out by rugby league betting services.

John Scarrow, Doncaster chairman, said that an internal investigation has been launched, and many fans are wondering what the outcome of this will be, and many are hopeful that things will work out well.

“The club consider this a serious matter,” he said. “We will be thoroughly investigating it in a proper and timely manner.”

Leaf, according to the Sun newspaper, also said that betting rugby amongst rugby league players remains very widespread, in spite of an attempted crackdown made by the game’s authorities after Martin Gleeson and Sean Long have been found guilty for making bets against their team St Helens in 2004 before a game that took place against Bradford.

Gleeson and Long, Great Britain internationals, have each been handed a fine of £7,500 and respectively given suspensions of four and three-months, and many rugby league betting fans remember very well when this happened.

In rugby, as in many sports, the rules of the game must be followed, or the consequences can be harsh. In this case, the punishment does not appear to be a very lenient one, and many fans that enjoy betting rugby hope that things work out for the player and the club regarding this problem.