Ospreys docked points

The Ospreys have been fined £100,000 and docked four league points next season for breaching Magners League rules.

It relates to the postponement of their Magners League clash against Ulster in Belfast on March 19, when the Ospreys claimed they lacked sufficient front-row players to fulfil the fixture.

But a three-man Celtic Rugby disciplinary panel reached its decision following a complaint lodged by the Magners League tournament director.

"The disciplinary panel found the Ospreys breached the tournament rules, and consequently their actions amounted to misconduct," said Celtic Rugby, in a statement.

Ospreys, who host Glasgow in a league title play-off clash on Friday night, have the right of appeal.

"We will now await the full written judgement before making a decision whether to appeal against the verdict," said an Ospreys spokesperson.

The fine and points deduction continues a testing season for the star-studded Welsh regional side.

They were twice investigated by European Rugby Cup, who organise the Heineken Cup, being fined for briefly having 16 players on the pitch in their crucial Heineken pool game against Leicester at the Liberty Stadium in January.

They also faced a complaint - and were subsequently cleared - that their South African scrum-half Ricky Januarie was not eligible for this season's Heineken Cup due to the length of his loan deal from Super 14 team the Stormers.

The Ospreys would have been without five front-row players for the Ulster game, which was originally postponed in January due to bad weather. Three were involved in Wales' RBS 6 Nations game against Italy at the Millennium Stadium on March 20, and another two were injured.