Salford Red Devils are one of five clubs set to participate in an RFL trial at Scholarship level.
We have agreed with four other clubs – Wakefield Trinity, Bradford Bulls, Hull KR and Hull FC – to play fixtures under modified rules this summer, starting with our game against Trinity on May 7th.
The matches will be 10 players per team, and played in three periods of 30 minutes (each with a short half-time break after 15), with each club allowed to select from an unlimited number of players – allowing all fit players from their squads to have a decent amount of time on the pitch.
In addition, the rules will be amended with the onside retreat reduced to 7 metres, a maximum of two defenders in a tackle, no scrums, no conversions, and 20-metre tap restarts rather than kick-offs after tries – all to increase the focus on core skills and tackling technique.
Head of Youth, Mark Moran has said: “It is important that young players at Scholarship level are exposed to as much game time to hone their core skills and tackle technique.
“This trial from the RFL allows us to do just that and we’re excited to see it in action on May 7th against Wakefield Trinity.”
