Leinster appeal against European ruling
Donnybrook
February 9, 2000

Leinster have appealed to the European Rugby Cup (ERC) for a second time to be reinstated in the Heineken Cup at the expense of Stade Francais, according to a report in Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper.

The Irish province finished level on points with the French club in Pool A of the competition but were edged out after the cumulative results against each other were considered.

Stade Francais are now due to meet Munster in the quarter-finals at Thomond Park, Limerick, in April but Leinster claim they should be ejected for fielding an unregistered player in the team which played against them at Donnybrook on December 18.

The ERC upheld Leinster's initial appeal and the French club were fined 4,000 pounds (6,400 dollars) for fielding Samoan wing Brian Lima - but Stade Francais were not docked any points despite a precedent set earlier in the season when Agen - another French club - had four points deducted for the same offence.

Leinster chief executive Barry o' Sullivan said: "We consider the fine totally inadequate and believe that in no sense has natural justice been served.

"We have taken careful legal advice on this and have written to the ERC board demanding a second hearing as soon as possible."

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