Cornish Pirates fail to overturn British & Irish Cup punishment

Hopkin's 'winning' try was cancelled out by the RFU

Cornish Pirates have lost an appeal against their points deduction for breaching injury replacement laws.

An independent panel upheld the decision by the Rugby Football Union, docking the Pirates of a match-winning try from fly-half Bertie Hopkin against Bedford in the British & Irish Cup.

Hopkin came on for injured prop Tyler Gendell after two front-rowers had already been replaced.

But they should have played with 14 men, with uncontested scrums required.

The ruling means that the Penzance-based club have won only one of their opening three group games in the cup so far this season.