Saracens could be kicked out of this season's Champions Cup after they fielded an ineligible player in their final pool game against Racing Metro last month. The English side won the game on 27-24 scoreline, securing their place in the quarter finals as a result.
However, it has now emerged that they played an illegal player.
Titi Lamositele was correctly registered for the tournament, but his work permit expired one day before the fixture. While the work permit was still in use when the matchday squad was named, he ultimately should not have been permitted to play in the game.
In a statement released on the European Professional Club Rugby website, it said the club will be charged with misconduct following the completion of an investigation into the matter:
Following an investigation, EPCR has decided to bring a misconduct complaint against Saracens arising from the club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 6 match against Racing 92 on Sunday, 19 January.
EPCR was informed by Saracens earlier this week that their player, Titi Lamositele, who was named in the match day squad for the fixture at Allianz Park and who came on to the field of play as a replacement in the 60th minute, may have been ineligible due an inadvertent administrative error on behalf of the club.
Lamositele was eligible at the time the Saracens match day squad was announced, however, the club has indicated to EPCR that the player’s work permit expired on Saturday, 18 January, the day before the fixture against Racing 92, and this may have constituted a breach of the Disciplinary Rules of the 2019/20 EPCR Participation Agreement.
An independent Disciplinary Committee consisting of Roger Morris (Wales), Chair, Pamela Woodman (Scotland) and Jean-Noel Couraud (France) has been appointed to hear the misconduct complaint in London this evening (Friday, 7 February) at 18.00 local time.
EPCR will be making no further comment until the decision of the independent Disciplinary Committee has been communicated.
What punishment will be handed out remains unclear, but it is possible that they will be given a points deduction.
That would see Saracens fail to advance to the quarter finals, where they are due to play Leinster. Glasgow would likely take their place as the next best runner-up.
