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Rugby League

Wigan docked points

07/08/2006

Wigan Warriors have been deducted two points and fined £50,000 for breaking the Super League salary cap in 2005.

The punishment is effective immediately, meaning Brian Noble's side, who had edged away from the relegation zone in the last few weeks, have dropped back towards the foot of the table.

They are now level on points with Wakefield and the Catalans Dragons after the Rugby Football League judiciary panel ruling.

"The panel found that the Wigan club had a salary cap of between 52 and 55 per cent at the end of 2005 and therefore, in accordance with the RFL’s Operational Rules, has suffered a penalty of the deduction of two competition points," a statement from the RFL said.

"The panel also found that in the course of the breach, the Wigan club was guilty of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game. They have been fined £50,000 plus costs in respect of this."

Wigan are the first team to be caught breaking the salary cap since 2003, when St Helens, Hull and Halifax were all deducted two points for overspend on their 2002 wage bills.

The RFL also said that Bradford Bulls had allegedly breached the salary cap rules in 2005 and that a hearing to determine whether this was the case would follow later in the year.

Four teams, Castleford, Hull, St Helens and Wakefield, were also punished for what were deemed minor offences by the RFL.

Hull and St Helens were fined £5,000, while Castleford and Wakefield were cautioned.

All the teams have the right to appeal if they so wish against their punishments.

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