Saints to pay for North release?

Northampton Saints could be fined for releasing George North to play for Wales against the Wallabies on Saturday.

The Test falls outside of the official international window and according to Premiership Rugby policy, non-England players are not allowed to play in matches or train with their national side outside of the official Test window.

While North, who was on Tuesday included in the Welsh starting line-up, has a clause in his Saints contract permitting him to play in all of Wales’ Tests, Premiership Rugby will investigate the club’s decision to release him as all 12 Premiership clubs agreed to the competition policy.