​There is still no word from European Rugby Cup (ERC) on the details of the investigation they launched into Ricky Januarie’s eligibility to play for the Ospreys in Europe.

The scrum-half played against Tigers in Pool Three during a loan spell at the Liberty Stadium from South African franchise the Stormers.

ERC rules state that a player has to sign at least a three-month contract to play for a club in the Heineken Cup.

Januarie’s deal was announced on the Stormers’ website as being for “two months” so he could return to prepare for the club’s Super 14 season.

Januarie was only with the Ospreys for a little more than two months.

So how did the Ospreys escape punishment which, while highly unlikely, could have resulted in a points deduction or even expulsion from the competition?

It looks like we will never know.

Last week, an ERC spokesman told me that they “didn’t know” if the findings of their investigation would ever be published. They still haven’t been.

But they should be. Surely transparency is a must for any tournament organisers or governing body.

Because on the face of it, the Ospreys have clearly breached the playing rules.

If they have somehow got around them with the relevant paperwork, we need to be told how they did it.

If they have found a loophole which they have exploited to their benefit, then fair play to them.

Maybe Januarie’s contract was indeed three months long and the Welsh region were paying him before or after he was playing for them.

But if that was the case, other clubs need to be told how they too can exploit the legislation for their own benefit. ‘Fair’s fair’ and all that.

If, on the other hand, ERC are embarrassed by the fact that a club has exploited their rules and got away with it, it would be interesting to see what they have to say about how it happened and what, if anything, they were going to do about it to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

For heaven’s sake – we will be having 16 men on the field next . . .

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