WORCESTER’S Aviva Premiership rivals London Welsh have failed with their appeal against a five-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player.

Following an RFU Panel of Inquiry decision earlier this month, Welsh were docked five league points for fielding scrum-half Tyson Keats in 10 Aviva Premiership matches this season when he was not correctly registered.

The points deduction moved the Exiles to the foot of the table, however they decided to challenge the ruling, but today’s independent appeal panel hearing before an independent panel upheld the sanction.

In addition to the points deduction, Welsh were fined £15,000 for the breach and that will also stand with the Richmond-based club who play out of Oxford having 21 days to pay up.

The original hearing also handed the club a further five-point deduction suspended until the end of the 2013/14 season, but this has been lifted on appeal.

Chairman of the independent appeal panel, Gareth Rees QC, said: “The independent appeal panel accepts that the circumstances of this case are quite exceptional.

“However, we have to mark this serious breach with a points deduction and, although we have allowed the appeal in respect of the five points which were suspended, we must acknowledge the impact on the integrity of the game and deduct five Premiership points with immediate effect.”

According to Premiership Regulations 14.2 (c), the decision is final and binding.