Salford Deducted Two Points for Breach of RFL Rules in St Helens Fixture

Salford Red Devils have been hit with a two-point deduction and a £5,000 fine – half of which is suspended until 2029 – after breaching Rugby Football League (RFL) operational rules during their opening fixture of the 2025 season against St Helens.

The Red Devils, struggling with financial difficulties throughout the year, fielded a severely weakened side in February’s record 82-0 defeat to Saints. The matchday squad included just 16 players, with eight making their debuts.

Initially, Salford pleaded not guilty to the charge, leading to two delays to an Operational Rules Tribunal hearing. However, the club later admitted that several first-team players had been available for selection despite being declared unavailable.

An RFL statement said: “Over the last month, the Salford management have accepted that the team chosen for the match was significantly weaker than it needed to be. Several first-team players advertised as being unable to play in the match were in fact available to be selected. The club accept that this offence merited a points deduction.”

The sanction leaves Salford ending the campaign with four points instead of six.

The club’s long-term future remains uncertain. Off-field financial turmoil has overshadowed the season, and last week it was confirmed Salford had not applied to be part of the expanded 14-team Super League in 2026.