Ospreys cleared by ERC

Welsh club cleared following Januarie investigation

By Rachel Griffiths   Last updated: 2nd March 2010  

Ospreys cleared by ERC

Januarie: Was eligible to play

We are delighted to have been informed that they have found that Ospreys Rugby has no case to answer.

Roger Blyth
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The Ospreys have been cleared of fielding an ineligible player in the Heineken Cup, the Welsh region have announced.

The European Rugby Cup Ltd (ERC) conducted an investigation into the registration of scrum-half Ricky Januarie, but has now told the Welsh region they have "no case to answer".

South Africa international Januarie joined the Ospreys on loan from Cape Town-based Super 14 club the Stormers at the end of November last year and featured in four group games.

According to Heineken Cup regulations, a player "must have at least a three-month contract with the club" to be eligible to compete in the competition.

It was announced on the Stormers' website on November 26 that Januarie was moving on a two-month contract.

Complaint

A reported complaint from Premier Rugby, the Guinness Premiership clubs' umbrella body, caused ERC to carry out a full investigation, but the organisation has cleared the Ospreys following a specially-convened board meeting in Dublin on Monday.

"Having co-operated fully with ERC at all times during their investigation into this matter, and providing them with all the relevant paperwork relating to Ricky's contract and registration, we are delighted to have been informed that they have found that Ospreys Rugby has no case to answer," said Ospreys managing director Roger Blyth in a statement.

"Now that we can finally put this matter behind us, we are, along with our many supporters, looking forward to our quarter-final against Biarritz in San Sebastian on Saturday, April 10."

The Ospreys had already been at the centre of one Heineken Cup investigation this season, landing a fine for briefly fielding 16 players during their group fixture against Leicester.