London Welsh have been fined 10,000 euros (£8,470) by an independent disciplinary committee for fielding ineligible scrum half Tyson Keats in the Amlin Cup last season.

European Rugby Cup launched misconduct proceedings in May, claiming the New Zealander was not correctly registered to feature in the competition when he faced Stade Francais on October 13.

The complaint was made after the Exiles, who play at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford, were handed a five-point penalty and a £15,000 fine by the Rugby Football Union in March for fielding Keats in ten Premiership games when he was ineligible.

A further suspended five-point penalty was later removed after an appeal.

Mike Scott, the former London Welsh team manager, was banned for life from rugby over his role in the matter after he admitted supplying false information regarding Keats, including a forged passport, to the RFU.

And now the European body have taken action of their own with the Exiles also being ordered to pay 1,000 euros costs.

The ERC said in a statement: “ERC awaited the conclusion of London Welsh’s RFU disciplinary hearing and the subsequent appeal before beginning its own investigation. “The independent disciplinary committee determined London Welsh were guilty of misconduct in breaching the Amlin Challenge Cup player registration rules and imposed a fine of €10,000.” Welsh were relegated from the Aviva Premiership last season after finishing bottom of the table in their maiden top-flight campaign, with Newcastle’s Championship success seeing the Falcons take their place.

The Exiles will be playing in the Greene King IPA Championship this season and start their campaign against Bedford Blues at Allianz Park on September 14. l HIGH Wycombe-based London Wasps have signed Italy international hooker Carlo Festuccia from RaboDirect Pro 12 side Zebre on undisclosed terms. The 33-year-old has won 54 caps, although over half have come off the bench, and has also played for French side Racing Metro.