IRB investigate Tincu saga

(GETTY IMAGES)

The International Rugby Board has launched an investigation after Perpignan hooker Marius Tincu played for his club in the French domestic league last weekend despite being suspended until March

Tincu is in the middle of an 18-week ban handed down after the 30-year-old Romanian was found guilty of foul play during the Heineken Cup Pool Three match against the Ospreys on October 18.

He is barred from competing at any level of the game until March 9, 2009.

Tincu was nevertheless selected for Perpignan's Top 14 encounter with Castres on Saturday, and the IRB have been quick to demand an explanation from his club.

"The IRB has asked the Federation Francaise de Rugby (FFR) to submit a complete record of the events, decisions and procedures that resulted in the apparent breach of sanction and Tincu taking to the field against Castres Olympique," read an IRB statement.

"On receipt of the report the IRB will decide on the appropriate course of action."