The Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) have been found guilty of breaching Regulation 4.2 of the Player Status, Player Contracts and Player Movement Regulations by fielding two players, Hannes Franklin and Jacques Coetzee, to play in four matches (two in the Vodacom Cup for EP Kings and two friendlies for the Southern Kings) earlier this year, without the necessary clearance certificate.

EPRU were fined R15,000 in respect of the two friendly games against the Bulls (R5,000) and the Cheetahs (R10,000), and will forfeit all log points accumulated from the Vodacom Cup games against the Welwitschias (25 Feb 2011) and the Leopards (4 March 2011).

The complaint, that the EPRU transgressed Regulations 4.2 and 4.12 of the Player Contracts, Player Status and Player Movements Regulations, was made by the Mpumalanga Rugby Union. Franklin and Coetzee were used by EPRU without a clearance certificate as required by Regulation 4.1.

Mr Koos Basson was the Judicial Officer in the complaint heard on Friday, 4 March, at the Offices of SARU in Cape Town. Mr Frikkie Erasmus acted on behalf of the EPRU, Mr Christo Ferreira on behalf of SARU.

EPRU have the right to appeal against the findings and the penalties imposed.