Greening set to miss Wasps' European Cup quarter-final
April 11, 2000

Wasps have encountered unforseen problems in registering new signing Phil Greening to play in their European Cup quarter-final clash with Northampton this weekend.

After splashing out £15,000 on the player last month, Loftus Road coach Nigel Melville had hoped to use the England hooker in the Franklin's Gardens last-eight clash.

However, when Melville tried to register Greening on Friday as one of two permitted new signings from the group stages of the tournament he was informed by the competition's organisers that Greening was ineligible because he had been among Sale's registered players for the Heineken Shield.

Although initially admitting there was no right to appeal, it is thought Wasps have asked the Rugby Football Union to intervene on their behalf.

However, it seems certain any representation will be rejected because all competing clubs agreed with the competition rules when they were drawn up last September.

"If you have been registered as a member of one club for either European competition you cannot play for another," said European Rugby Cup administrator Ken Reid.

"The rules are quite clear, and even if the RFU do contact us I cannot see how the situation will change.

"It would be up to the ERC board to amend any rule. If they did I'm sure the other competing clubs would complain with every justification."

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