Viadana in the ERC dock
Italian club faces hearing over postponement
Viadana will appear before an independent Disciplinary Committee in Dublin on Thursday, 13 April to hear misconduct complaints lodged against the club by the ERC Disciplinary Officer.
The complaints arise from the twice postponed Round six European Challenge Cup Pool 1 match between Viadana and Northampton Saints, which was originally scheduled for January 20.
The fixture was postponed on January 20 and again postponed on January 21.
The Disciplinary Committee will be chaired by Brian McLoughlin (Ireland) and also comprise Mark McParland (Ireland) and Hugh Logan, (Ireland)
Viadana chose to forfeit the game rather than travel to an alternative venue for a rescheduled match.
The fixture was referred to the ERC Board of Directors, as per ERC regulations, who awarded the game to Northampton Saints and following a meeting on February 28, the ERC Board directed the ERC Disciplinary Officer to proceed with misconduct complaints against Viadana as follows:
i) failure to take suitable actions to prepare their pitch
ii) failure to fulfil the fixture.
Northampton were awarded all five match points on offer for the postponed match at the time.
Italian club Calvisano were fined a total of €22,500 ($27,294) earlier this season for similar offences, when they were found guilty of refusing to fulfil a fixture against Leeds in the Heineken Cup.
