Wigan win back their points after successful appeal

Wigan have won their appeal against the two point deduction handed down to them for salary cap breaches.

The Warriors will have two points added to their total immediately, moving them off zero points and up to 10th in the Super League table.

They have been fined £5,000 and told to pay £2,000 to cover the costs of their first tribunal hearing in January.

The RFL and Wigan have already agreed to split the cost of the Sport Resolutions hearing.

Wigan were penalised on the eve of the new season in relationship to payments totalling £14,700, which wasn’t declared to the Rugby Football League.

However, Wigan have been successful in their appeal in a re-hearing. They have been reinstated two points and they will be deducted two points if they breach the salary cap again in the next 12 months.

An RFL spokesperson said: “It is good to have this matter resolved, after this second independent hearing following the initial independent tribunal in January.

“The RFL will continue to police the salary cap in agreement with the Super League clubs.”

Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan said: “We are now able to draw a line under this issue and are pleased that the Sports Resolutions independent panel have reached what we have always believed to be the correct decision.

“Throughout this process we have acknowledged the administrative errors that resulted in this technical breach and I’d like to say again that we apologise unreservedly for the errors and accept a fine of this level is justified.

“At no point during this investigation has Wigan’s integrity been questioned. Our main argument has been that a points-deduction punishment was disproportionate to the marginal nature of the offence committed and we are happy that the independent panel shares this view with today’s decision.

“We have worked co-operatively with the Rugby Football League (RFL) and the Sports Resolution panel. I’d also like to thank our fellow Betfred Super League clubs who have been largely supportive of our stance. Hopefully the findings of this case can act as a catalyst for change on some of the operating procedures regarding salary cap management which are clearly necessary.

“Wigan now will draw a line under this affair and look forward to getting back to the important matter of gaining points on the field for the remainder of the 2019 Betfred Super League season.”