Summary
- Sport: Rugby League
- Issue: Arbitration
- Type: Regulation & Governance
- Tribunal: Jeremy Summers, Arthur Harverd, Brad Pomfret
- Decision date: 11 March 2019
- Outcome: Please see summary for full list of sanctions.
Decision Details
A decision in the matter of Wigan Warriors v The Rugby Football league (RFL) has been published by Sport Resolutions.
An Off-Field Operational Rules Appeal Tribunal has issued its decision on the Appeal of Wigan Warriors v The Rugby Football League (Appeal).
On 24 January 2019, a First instance Operational Rules Tribunal determined that the sanctions to be imposed on Wigan Warriors for breaches of the 2017 RFL Salary Cap Regulations would be as follows:
- A deduction of 2 (two) Competition Points in the 2019 Season.
- A fine of £5,000 of which £2,500 shall be suspended for a period of 12 months.
- An order for costs in the sum of £2,000.
The club appealed the decision on 8 February 2019. The matter was referred to Sport Resolutions who appointed an Operational Rules Appeal Tribunal composed of Jeremy Summers (Chairman), Arthur Harverd and Brad Pomfret.
Following a re-hearing on 5 March 2019, the Appeal Tribunal concluded that (based on all relevant factors) the following sanctions were to be imposed:
- The club is deducted 2 (two) Competition Points suspended for a period of 12 months from 6 March 2019.
- The suspension will be activated in the event the Club commits a further breach of the Finite Salary Cap within the period of suspension.
- The Club is fined a sum of £5,000, payable immediately.
- The Club is ordered to pay costs of £2,000 in respect of the hearing on 24 January 2019.
- The appeal fee is to be retained by the RFL.