A rugby league player diagnosed with motor neurone disease will be allowed to play the opening seconds of two forthcoming games so he can reach the milestone of 100 matches for his club.

South Sydney Rabbitohs have been given special dispensation to include Jai Arrow in their team despite his retirement after being diagnosed with MND earlier this year.

Australia’s National Rugby League is making an exception to its rules to allow Arrow to take part in the Rabbitohs’ final two fixtures of the regular season.

The 31-year-old, 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 of the match 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.

Rabbitohs face the Gold Coast Titans away on Saturday, followed by a home fixture against Sydney Roosters on 4 September.

Arrow played 178 NRL games for the Brisbane Broncos, the Titans and the Rabbitohs across a 10-year career, as well as making 12 State of Origin appearances for Queensland.

He made his debut for the Rabbitohs in 2021 and played in 98 NRL fixtures for the club before his retirement.

Blake Solly, Rabbitohs chief executive officer, said the club was “very grateful” to everyone who helped accommodate the request.

“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,” Solly added.

“His fight against MND has already been inspirational, and we can’t wait to welcome Jai back on to the field for two more games to inspire everyone connected with rugby league and in society in general.”

MND affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord, which tell your muscles what to do.

This leads them to weaken and stiffen over time and usually affects how you walk, talk, eat and breathe.

Scientists are not sure what causes MND, but it is likely to be a combination of the genes – or biological traits – you get from your parents when you are born, and other lifestyle factors.

Fellow former Queensland player Carl Webb died of MND at 42 in 2023, while former Leeds Rhinos and England half-back Rob Burrow died in 2024, five years after diagnosis.

Former Scotland rugby union international Doddie Weir died in November 2022, and World Cup-winning former England international Lewis Moody was diagnosed in September 2025.