Saints in fine mess if North plays Aussies

NORTHAMPTON will face Premiership Rugby sanctions if they release George North to play for Wales against Australia next month.

Wales coach Warren Gatland revealed earlier this week that North’s contract with the Saints allows him to play in every Test – even those, like the Wallabies match on November 30, which fall outside the IRB international window.

But the English club’s umbrella body have confirmed this goes against their own directive, and Northampton can expect a £ 30,000 fine if they allow their wing to wear the Wales jersey that day.

“There is a policy in place for the clubs and as far as Premiership Rugby is concerned nothing has changed in regard to that,” said a spokesman.

Bath may also have questions to answer after agreeing to let Paul James face the Wallabies. However the prop will play for club rather than country the previous week when Tonga are the visitors to the Millennium Stadium in a game which falls inside the IRB window.

Leicester full- back Niall Morris has failed to make the cut for Ireland’s autumn internationals.

Morris, who trained with a 42- man squad last month, was not included in the final 34 named yesterday for the games against Samoa, Australia and New Zealand.

There are three uncapped players in James Coughlan, Jack McGrath and David Kearney, who steps in on the wing for the injured Simon Zebo.

But despite the absence of injured second row Donnacha Ryan, who is out for 10 weeks with a knee injury, there is no place for 94- cap veteran Donncha O’Callaghan.

London Irish are favourites to sign James O’Connor on a short- term contract after the rebel Wallaby quit Australian rugby. O’Connor wants to move to England and will reveal his favoured destination “over the next few days”.

Australian Super Rugby franchises agreed a £ 3million salary cap yesterday, as local financial pressures take their toll. In addition, player Test match fees have been cut from £ 7,800 to £ 5,900.