London Welsh to appeal points deduction

London Welsh have confirmed that they will appeal their five-point deduction from the Rugby Football Union for fielding an ineligible player.

The club was handed the punishment on Thursday night after they were found guilty of using Tyson Keats when the player did not have the correct documents.

The sanction, which includes another five-point suspended deduction and a £15,000 fine, has seen Welsh slip to the bottom of the Aviva Premiership table.

"London Welsh can confirm that it will be lodging an appeal against the ruling," read a statement on the club's official website.

"The club was unknowingly the victim of one individual's fraudulent conduct and it was London Welsh which discovered the fraud and brought it to the attention of the RFU. The Panel however has punished London Welsh on the basis that it is to blame for what that individual has done."

Welsh return to league action on March 23 when they travel to Gloucester Rugby.