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Rugby League

Wigan and St Helens punished over salary cap breach

12/07/2007

Rugby league giants Wigan Warriors and St Helens have today managed to avoid maximum punishment for their alleged infringement of player caps.

Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsay, supported by officials from St Helens, were hit with a maximum six-point fine for breaching the rule.

St Helens did not lose any points for their infringement but were fined £22,000 at Rugby League headquarters in Red Hall in Leeds.

Some £4,000 of the total had been held over from last year, when the club was also fined for overspending on player wages.

The latest infringement at St Helens is believed to relate to bonuses given to Ade Gardner and James Graham when they made their Great Britain debuts last season.

In the preliminary hearing, the clubs managed to have their maximum punishments placed in line with rules relating to the 2006 season, despite the clubs having since agreed to double the maximum punishment to 12 points.

While the Saints and Bradford have had their full hearings heard this evening, Wigan will be facing the panel on Monday.

Rules stipulate that Super League clubs are permitted to spend no more than 50 per cent of their annual income, up to £1.7 million on player salaries.



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