THE OSPREYS have been cleared of fielding an ineligible player in the Heineken Cup.

Tournament organisers European Rugby Cup Ltd (ERC) informed the Welsh region they had “no case to answer” following an investigation into the registration of the scrumhalf Ricky Januarie.

The South Africa international joined the Ospreys on loan from Cape Town-based Super 14 outfit the Stormers at the end of November and played in four group games.

Heineken Cup regulations state a player “must have at least a three-month contract with the club” to be eligible to play in the tournament.

The Stormers’ website announced on November 26th that Januarie was moving on a two-month deal.

ERC conducted a full investigation following a reported complaint from Premier Rugby, the Premiership clubs’ umbrella body.

But, after holding a specially-convened board meeting in Dublin yesterday, ERC informed the Ospreys they had been cleared over the incident.

The Ospreys had already faced one investigation over their Heineken Cup conduct this season, receiving a fine for briefly fielding 16 players in their decisive group match against Leicester.