BEN COCKAYNE has been fined £2,000 for repeated breaches of the Rugby Football League's (RFL) social media, safeguarding and Covid-19 policies.
The 37-year-old, who played at York City Knights from 2018 to 2019, including in the run-in to the 2018 League One title win, was found by the sport's governing body to have voiced "controversial views about the virus and related testing and vaccine arrangements," in 2020 and 2021.
The RFL considered the views of Cockayne, who is currently Hull KR's scholarship head coach, to be "incompatible with his responsibility for the development and welfare of young rugby league players."
"Cockayne had previously been warned that such conduct was prejudicial to the interests of the game and fined £1,000, with £500 suspended," the RFL explained. "The latest fine includes this suspended amount.
"Any further transgressions will be referred to an Operational Rules Tribunal and to the RFL’s safeguarding case management group for consideration of his suitability to work with children and young people."
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