Sarries Appeal Two Point Deduction

By Henry Harman
November 6 2003

Saracens have today announced that they have lodged an appeal with the RFU concerning their playing of unregistered player (James Parkes) against Newcastle Falcons on the opening day of the season that cost the Men In Black two vital league points.

From saracens.com -

"We're not trying to suggest that we've had an unfair hearing," explained Saracens CEO Mark Sinderberry, "it's more about the fundamental issue that the law was designed for the amateur rather than the professional game.

"Penalties in professional sport, as in the commercial world, need to be appropriate and quantifiable," continued Sinderberry, "right now as it stands we don’t know how it will effect us. Maybe come the end of the season it will make no difference but then again it could cost us a Heineken Cup spot, a place in the Zurich Premiership Semi Finals or Zurich Wildcard Play Offs or worse still be relegated, we just don't know.

"At the end of the day we are just challenging the appropriateness of the penalty. In recent events around the world we have seen similar transgressions treated differently. In New Zealand a similar incident happened at provincial level and the club were fined and more recently England were also handed a financial rather than points penalty during the World Cup for the fielding of 16 players."

The RFU have acknowledged the appeal and a date for appeal should be set in December