Gloucester Rugby 'considering' legal proceeding over RJvR debacle

Gloucester Rugby say they are considering legal proceeding after they were effectively stiffed by a Springbok centre Rohan Janse Van Rensburg.

Van Rensburg has been fined and banned for two weeks after signing playing contracts for both Sale and Gloucester, while the Sharks have been handed a suspended five-point deduction for their role in the saga.

The South Africa centre joined Sale on a permanent basis ahead of the 2018-19 season after a loan stint but the Rugby Football Union revealed he had also signed a deal with Gloucester.

Van Rensburg was charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game contrary to RFU rule 5.12, while Sale were charged with breaches of RFU regulation 7.5 relating to approaches to players. The RFU said both club and player accepted the charges.

The dates of Van Rensburg’s two-week suspension will be determined once more details of the playing calendar become available. A fine of £32,500 has also been levied, of which £25,000 will go to Gloucester to reimburse the Premiership club for monies which were given to Van Rensburg but not repaid.

Sale, meanwhile, were given a suspended five-point deduction for the next two seasons on condition they do not breach RFU regulation seven during that time, while they have also been fined £20,000.

“There is a right of appeal against this decision,” the RFU added in a statement.

Responding to the decision, Gloucester said in a brief statement on their website: “Gloucester Rugby is now considering its position in relation to legal proceedings to recover compensation which the independent disciplinary panel confirmed Gloucester Rugby was free to pursue.”

David Humphreys (Director of Rugby, Gloucester Rugby); Johan Ackermann (Head Coach); Stephen Vaughan (former Chief Executive Officer of Gloucester Rugby and now CEO of Wasps); and Martin St Quinton (Gloucester Chairman), were all called by the RFU as witnesses.

Press Association