Wasps fined over loan player issue against London Irish

Wasps played six loan players, rather than the permitted three, in the round-three match on January 27, which they lost 66-7.

Aidan O'Brien, the single judicial officer who heard the case on papers, said: "The appeal chairman found that the breach was a consequence of an administrative oversight on the part of the club and that there was no intention by the club to gain an unfair advantage over the opposition in selecting a prohibited number of loan players.

"The electronic match card system did not flag up the club's error during the registration process, which was regrettable.

"However the club ultimately remains responsible for compliance with the regulations, which it at all times accepted.

"As Wasps have no further fixtures in this competition, the chairman determined that a financial penalty was the appropriate sanction in this case.

"The club was fined £500 for the first additional loan player and £1,000 for each additional loan player thereafter (a total fine of £2,500)."