Northampton have been fined £60,000 by a Premiership Rugby disciplinary panel for letting wing George North play for Wales against Australia on 30 November. The match, which Wales lost 30-26, took place outside of the International Rugby Board’s autumn window.
bbc
Premiership clubs have agreed that only players representing England can be released for matches outside of that international window.
Saints admitted the breach and will not appeal against the sanction.
The club have previously said an agreement was made with North, 21, when he signed to “allow him to represent Wales if and when selected”.
Northampton are the first team to contravene the Premiership Rugby policy, but the verdict could affect other players, with North’s Wales team-mate Richard Hibbard joining Gloucester next season.
The Welsh Rugby Union has again scheduled a fourth match next autumn, against South Africa, which falls outside the IRB window.
This is crazy and just doesn’t seem right although guess it shouldn’t be surprising considering the organization its coming from..
Fair enough the game fell outside of the international window but the fact they allow players to play for England outside the window means to me they are discriminating against players on basis of their country/nationality and wonder where that stands in European law ie is this a policy that can be enforced, would be disappointed if Northampton didn’t challenge it.
Wow, a bit harsh!
3 @ grootblousmile:
Yes GBS I thought the fine was pretty harsh but I am a lot closer to things here so may not have been as objective as someone like yourself who is a bit further removed from the goings on with Premiership Rugby at the fore of the breakaway at the moment. This just to me confirms their arrogance. The question is does this alient or attract Wales Rugby to their cause in trying to get their deal of European rugby going or will the lure of money be the overriding factor in it all in the end…
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