Rugby league player Jai Arrow, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) earlier this year, has been granted special dispensation to play the opening seconds of two forthcoming games. This will allow him to reach the milestone of 100 matches for his club, the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Australia's National Rugby League (NRL) is making an exception to its rules to allow the 31-year-old to participate in the Rabbitohs' final two regular season fixtures. Arrow, who announced his immediate retirement in May following his diagnosis, will lead the team out in full kit before leaving the field as the Rabbitohs' first interchange and taking his place on the bench.
The NRL has approved one-off rule changes, which will allow the club to have an additional player for team lists and interchanges. The Rabbitohs are set to face the Gold Coast Titans away on Saturday, followed by a home fixture against the Sydney Roosters on 4 September.
Arrow made his debut for the Rabbitohs in 2021 and had played in 98 NRL fixtures for the club before his retirement. Blake Solly, Rabbitohs chief executive officer, expressed gratitude for the accommodation, stating, "We believe this will provide great inspiration for everyone watching the game from the stadium or at home, showing that MND will not hold Jai, or anyone else, back from achieving what they want to achieve in life."