ERC formally investigate Ospreys' win`
Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:47
A shadow was cast over the Ospreys' Heineken Cup quarterfinal place after officials announced Monday they would be looking into how they managed to have 16 players on the field against Leicester.
The Welsh region beat two-time European champions Leicester 17-12 in a Pool Six match at the weekend to seemingly secure their place in this season's last eight of European club rugby's leading competition.
But Leicester protested that no action had been taken against the Ospreys when, instead of the regulation 15 players, they briefly had 16 in action late on when Lee Byrne returned from a blood binning only for temporary replacement Sonny Parker to stay on the pitch at Swansea's Liberty Stadium.
European Rugby Cup (ERC), the tournament organisers, said on Monday they had received a letter of complaint from Leicester and that disciplinary officer Roger O'Connor was "currently gathering statements and evidence from both clubs and the match officials relating to the incident in the second half".
ERC's statement added: "Once all statements and evidence have been gathered and reviewed, a decision will be taken as to what further steps, if any, will be taken."
That left open the possibility of the Ospreys being expelled from the tournament although, as this appears to be precluded by tournament rules, a fine would seem the more likely punishment.
Eventual champions England were fined during the 2003 World Cup when wing Dan Luger briefly appeared as a 16th player during their group victory over Samoa in Melbourne.
AFP
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