Ospreys deducted Magners League points

The Ospreys have been deducted four league points for the 2010-2011 Magners League season and fined £100,000 for failing to fulfil a fixture with Ulster last March.

A Celtic Rugby Disciplinary Panel met in Glasgow yesterday after the Welsh side pulled out of the match because they did not have sufficient front-row cover to play.

The complaint, brought by the Magners League Tournament Director on behalf of Celtic Rugby, has led to a harsh punishment for Tommy Bowe's side.

At the time the Ospreys had a number of players unavailable due to other playing commitments.

The match was eventually played in April, with the Welsh team winning by 37-28.

Both parties, the Ospreys and Celtic Rugby, have the option to appeal.

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 20 March, and another two were injured.