Welsh pay the price for ineligible Kiwi

London Welsh were docked five points and fined £15,000 ($22,534) on Thursday for fielding an ineligible player in the Premiership this season.

The Exiles, who are in their first campaign in the top-flight following promotion last term, dropped to the bottom of the Premiership, two points behind Sale. They also received a further five-point deduction, suspended until the end of next season.

However, Thursday's decision meant London Welsh could still avoid finishing the season bottom of the table and in the lone relegation place, amid concerns they might have suffered a crippling points penalty which would have rendered their remaining league matches 'meaningless' from their point of view.

The case, which was first heard by a Rugby Football Union Premiership regulations panel on Tuesday, centred around the club's New Zealand scrumhalf Tyson Keats, who appeared in 10 league games this season when not properly registered.

AFP