Saracens avoid points deduction at hearing

Saracens have escaped with a 50,000 euros (£42,500) fine after admitting they fielded an ineligible player in their Champions Cup match against Racing 92 last month.

An independent disciplinary committee deemed the fine – half of which is suspended – was sufficient after accepting the situation occurred due to an administrative error.

Saracens fielded prop Titi Lamositele in the match despite the American international’s work permit having expired on the day before.

Saracens had feared being thrown out of the competition, having already been relegated from the Premiership due to salary cap breaches.

Had they been docked more than two points – French club Grenoble were docked four points for fielding an ineligible player against London Welsh in the 2012-13 European Challenge Cup – Glasgow Warriors would have progressed to the quarter-final stage.

Grenoble, who won 20-9, were deducted four match points as London Welsh were awarded a 28-0 victory.

A European points deduction could have moved Saracens. who lost to Sale in the Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final last night, out of the eighth quarter-final qualification spot.

Committee chairman Roger Morris said in a statement: “Following careful consideration of a complaint involving a player who has been contracted to Saracens since 2014, and who remains contracted to the club, the committee believes that this was an unfortunate sequence of events brought about by an administrative oversight.

“However, Saracens are in breach of the Disciplinary Rules of the Heineken Champions Cup, and that breach constitutes misconduct which can be proportionately dealt with by way of a financial penalty.”

Saracens finished second in their Champions Cup group last month to secure an away quarter-final at Leinster on April 4.

Their 27-24 victory against Racing pushed Glasgow Warriors out of the final Champions Cup quarter-final spot.

Saracens’ victory also denied French side Racing 92 a home quarter-final and the club said they were “astonished at not being contacted after being involved in a new breach by Saracens”.

The independent disciplinary committee consisted of Roger Morris (Wales), Pamela Woodman (Scotland) and Jean-noel Couraud (France).

It is the latest sorry episode in a nightmare season for Saracens.

The English and European champions will be relegated from the Gallagher Premiership at the end of this season over the salary cap scandal.

Saracens were docked 35 league points – and then an additional 70 – and fined £5.36 million for salary cap breaches and will play next season in the second-tier..