Leicester, the Premiership leaders, were last night docked a point for having fielded a player who was temporarily registered with another club.

The fly-half Ian Humphreys played for the Tigers on November 18 and 26 while he was registered as being on loan to Leeds Tykes and therefore ineligible under Premiership regulations.

Leicester, who still lead the Premiership by three points, have 14 days to appeal the decision.

Gloucester have signed the former Munster scrum-half Mike Prendergast on a two-year deal from the French club Bourgoin. He will replace Haydn Thomas as cover for Peter Richards and Rory Lawson. Thomas is moving to Bristol.