Inquiry into Ospreys contract

HEINEKEN CUP: MUNSTER HAVE been left in the dark over who they might take on in a possible Heineken Cup semi-final after the Ospreys were threatened with expulsion over the eligibility of Ricky Januarie's contract.

The southern province are scheduled to take on an away tie in the last four against either the Welsh region or Biarritz – should they defeat Northampton Saints at Thomond Park in the quarter-finals on April 10th.

South African scrumhalf Januarie signed a minimum three-month deal in December, as required by tournament organisers European Cup Rugby (ERC).

Januarie was drafted in on an emergency loan to cover for the then-injured Lions star Mike Phillips, Jamie Nutbrown and Tom Isaacs.

The 2007 World Cup winner figured in four pool matches, but returned home to join the Stormers within two months.

If the Welsh region are found guilty by ERC, they could face expulsion ahead of their quarter-final date away to Biarritz, with Leicester Tigers on stand-by.

An Ospreys statement read: “We were contacted by ERC last month as, we believe, were a number of other clubs, to clarify certain issues around the registration of players in this season’s European competitions, in our case regarding Ricky Januarie.

“We are co-operating fully with ERC, providing them with all the relevant paperwork relating to Ricky’s transfer and registration, and believe that all our actions comply implicitly with tournament regulations.

“There will be no further comment on this issue from the Ospreys.” The ERC yesterday declined to comment.

*Ulster are expected to confirm within days that they have beaten off interest from English and French clubs to secure Tom Court for another two years. The 29-year-old, Brisbane-born former shot putter is keen to remain with Ulster and continue his push for a place in the Irish team. Court now in his fourth season with Ulster has played 51 times, starting all of their Heineken Cup pool games this season and appearing in all six the season before, and won his seventh Irish cap as a replacement for John Hayes in Paris.