COMPENSATION ON THE CARDS?

GLOUCESTER will seek compensation from their Gallagher Premiership rivals Worcester following the cancellation of a league game between the clubs in March.

In accordance with Premiership Rugby regulations, Sport Resolutions was asked to form an independent panel - which was chaired by Sir Gary Hickinbottom and also comprised Carol Couse and Jonathan Rennie - to decide how points should be allocated.

Play-off contenders Gloucester were awarded a 20-0 win and five points from the match after Worcester were unable to field the required six match-squad front-row forwards.

In its published “reasoned decision” findings, the panel said: “On the evidence, we do not consider that Worcester took either all possible or even reasonable steps to obtain loan cover.”

Worcester, meanwhile, confirmed they would not be lodging an appeal against the decision to award Gloucester five match points.

The cancellation, which was announced just hours before the scheduled kick-off at Kingsholm, is understood to have cost Gloucester around £250,000.

Worcester said in a statement: “Warriors have received the full judgment from Sport Resolutions and, while we are disappointed with the outcome, we respect and accept the panel’s ruling. Once again, we apologise to Premiership Rugby, BT Sport, Gloucester and supporters of both clubs for the inconvenience that was caused by the cancellation.”