Jamie Thackray

Hull have avoided expulsion from the Carnegie Challenge Cup but are likely to face a heavy fine after being found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in the last two rounds.

Prop forward Jamie Thackray, who joined Hull for a second time from Leeds on March 27, more than three weeks after the initial cup deadline, played in their 42-5 fourth-round win at Rochdale last month but the matter only came to light after he appeared in their 32-18 fifth-round victory over Widnes last Sunday.

The Rugby Football League's board of directors, who spent most of Wednesday considering the issue, insist they regard the breach of rules as a "very serious matter" but have stopped short of throwing Hull out of the competition.

Instead, they have ruled that the results so far will stand and that the quarter-final between Bradford and Hull at the Grattan Stadium, Odsal, will go ahead.

But they have also asked the RFL's compliance manager Karen Moorhouse to investigate further and decide what punishment to impose.

A statement read: "The RFL board of directors have considered the matter of the Hull FC club fielding an ineligible player in the Carnegie Challenge Cup 2008 and view it very seriously.

"However, the RFL operational rules covering this do not prescribe a specific penalty for playing an ineligible player.

"In view of the absence of a mandatory provision, the RFL board have determined that the results of the Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth and fifth-round matches involving Hull FC will stand and the club will continue in the competition.

"It is, however, clear that playing an ineligible player is a serious breach of the operational rules and the board has referred the matter to the RFL compliance manager to deal with under the misconduct rules.

"The RFL board intend to review the operational rules relating to competitions and will consider whether the rules should be amended so that offences of this nature will lead to mandatory expulsion from the cup in future seasons."