Hull FC guilty of breaking Cup rules

Although the RFL regard this as a "serious breach" of the rules, there is no compulsory sanction for this infringement and the club will be dealt with under the misconduct rule.

RFL media manager Andrew Whitelam told the Morning Star on Thursday: "Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the individual clubs to ensure the eligibility of the player.

"There are a large number of teams in the competition, each with 18 players, and we all agree that the RFL does not have the manpower or the resources to check each and every individual team sheet handed in after every game.

"The onus is on the club to ensure that all their players are correctly registered, " said Whitelam.

The decision to leave Hull in the competition means that they will now face Bradford Bulls in the quarter-finals.

The RFL added: "The RFL board intend to review the operational rules relating to competitions and will consider whether the rules should be amended so that offences of this nature will lead to to mandatory expulsion from the cup in future seasons.

"The RFL will make no further comment as the matter is now sub judice."

Elsewhere, Sheffield Eagles are poised to whisk former player Damien Reid straight from a prison cell onto the rugby field.

The 24-year-old centre has been in jail for three months after breaking a friend's jaw during a night out and having his contract with Salford cancelled as a result of his crime.

But he is expected to be released by the weekend and the Eagles are ready to help him resurrect his rugby league career.

Sheffield coach Mark Aston said: "I'm just waiting for a phone call to say he's being released and then we'll sit down with Damien and talk about a contract for the rest of this season.

Aston said: "People make mistakes and it's quite easy to walk away from them, but I never will do that."

He may even consider putting Reid straight into his team for Sunday's National League One game at Widnes.

Reid scored seven tries in 21 appearances for the Eagles last season and earned a full-time contract at Salford, but he never played for the Reds before being jailed.