Squad declaration rules changed

The RFL have announced they have changed the rules with regards to naming a squad before the match.

They say you can now name a squad of up to 21 players, and if there are any changes, the team will lose an interchange, one for each player changed.

The only exception is if a player on dual-registration is re-called, or if the governing body are notified of exceptional circumstances.

This comes after Warrington were fined £2,000 earlier this year for playing Stefan Ratchford in their Challenge Cup semi-final win over Hull FC.

The system was first introduced in 2005, after the betting scandal that happened a year earlier when Bradford Bulls beat a severely weakened St Helens side at Odsal.

Martin Gleeson and Sean Long had both placed large bets that their side was going to lose, and they did 54-8. Both were subsequently banned for three and four months respectively.

The RFL say this is the biggest shake-up of the system since 2009, when they set the deadline of 12pm two days before their respected games.