Salford Red Devils have confirmed some major news within their coaching set-up with Paul Rowley set to step down for the 2026 season.
Paul Rowley has been essential to Salford Red Devils in recent years with his appointment ahead of the 2022 campaign coinciding with some of the club’s best seasons yet, including their incredible fourth-placed finish in Super League in 2024.
In his debut campaign, he would take the Red Devils to the Super League play-off semi-finals after nilling Challenge Cup finalists Huddersfield Giants in the first round.
As yet, he has been unable to guide the side to Old Trafford which his predecessor Ian Watson did but Rowley is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in Super League, highlighted by his nomination for the Coach of the Year Award in 2024.
Now though, it has been confirmed by Salford Red Devils that the 2025 season will be his last in the head coaching role with plans revealed for 2026 and beyond.
Salford Red Devils set for huge change
Paul Rowley will become the Salford Red Devils Director of Rugby for the 2026 season, moving into the role that Ian Blease used to hold.
Salford confirmed: “Head Coach, Paul Rowley, will become our new Director of Rugby in 2026.
“He will continue to lead the first-grade squad for the 2025 Betfred Super League campaign before moving into his new role from November 1st, 2025.
“Everyone at the Club is delighted Paul will continue his journey with us in the long term and look forward to what we can build together going forward.
“More changes to our Club’s leadership structure will follow shortly and our new Head Coach for 2026 will be revealed in the coming days.”
Rowley will turn 50 in March but it would seem that hs coaching days, at least at Salford, will come to an end with the conclusion of next season as he ascends to a more senior role as the club’s Director of Rugby.
That was previously occupied by Ian Blease who moved to Leeds Rhinos prompting talks that Rowley could follow suit but that did not happen with the Red Devils boss standing firm and staying loyal.
Who the Red Devils appoint as their head coach for 2026 will become a hot topic of debate and Rowley, in his upcoming role, will surely have a major say in that too.