SARACENS have confirmed that they are going to fight the RFU over the decision to dock the Men in Black two points for fielding an unregistered player against Newcastle on the opening day of the season.

However, chief executive Mark Sinderberry was keen to stress that the club did not feel they were unfairly treated during the disciplinary proceedings themselves.

"We're not trying to suggest that we've had an unfair hearing," explained Sinderberry. "It's more about the fundamental issue that the law was designed for the amateur rather than the professional game.

"Penalties in professional sport, as in the commercial world, need to be appropriate and quantifiable.

"Right now as it stands, we don't know how it will effect us. Maybe come the end of the season it will make no difference but then again it could cost us a Heineken Cup spot, a place in the Zurich Premiership Semi Finals or Zurich Wildcard Play Offs, or worse still be relegated. We just don't know.

In New Zealand a similar incident happened at provincial level and the club were fined, and more recently England were also handed a financial rather than points penalty during the World Cup for the fielding of 16 players," Sinderberry added.