Following a review by ERC of issues regarding the non-attendance of key personnel at this season's Heineken Cup tournament launches in Cardiff and in Paris, four clubs have been fined.
Benetton Treviso, Saracens, Toulon and Toulouse were found to have been in breach of the 2010/11 Heineken Cup Participation Agreement and each had a fixed fine of €5,000 imposed by the ERC Board.
In the cases of Benetton Treviso, Toulon and Toulouse, the clubs' Directors of Rugby / Head Coaches - Franco Smith, Philippe Saint-André and Guy Noves respectively - did not attend the French / Italian launch of the Heineken Cup in Paris as required by the tournament's media rules.
In the case of Saracens, the club failed to make its captain, Steve Borthwick, available to attend the UK launch of the Heineken Cup in Cardiff again as required by the tournament's media rules.
ERC regards the various Heineken Cup launches as highly significant events which are designed to facilitate media coverage of the tournament and all participating clubs have committed to sending the relevant key personnel to such launches.
Benetton Treviso have lodged an appeal against the fixed fine.
Notes
a) Under the terms of the 2010/11 Heineken Cup Participation Agreement, clubs are required to make their Directors of Rugby / Head Coaches and their Captains available to attend Heineken Cup tournament launches.
b) All clubs have the right to appeal fixed fines imposed by the ERC Board within three working days of receiving notification.
