Havelock North Rugby Club withdrew its appeal to the New Zealand Rugby Union over the "Playergate" saga.
Club spokesman Dai Evans pointed out yesterday that despite indicating in December the club may appeal the $500 fine and deduction of five Nash Cup premier competition points this season in the wake of their fielding of two unregistered players in last year's 22-17 Maddison Trophy semifinal win against Hastings Rugby and Sports the appeal was withdrawn.
Both players, loosie Luke Ottley and prop Emmanuel Maui were stalwarts of the club with 154 and 127 games respectively.
"Those sanctions were always accepted by the club. What the New Zealand union did was assist our club with discussions we had with the Hawke's Bay union," Evans said.
"Both parties acknowledged it had gone beyond the administrative glitch surrounding player registration, and more to do with the whole way the process was handled.
