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“This process revealed a flaw in the SRU operations manual, which was that no single reference source was specified for determining player points.”

Watkins said the SRU will now base all player points solely on Opta data.

It was also determined that Fifita’s performance in the final 12 minutes of the win over Souths did not affect the outcome of the match and that the club had not scored more than 100 points in any other match.

The decision contradicts the SRU’s strong response to a similar breach by Sydney University’s first-year Colts last year, who won 57-27 in the semi-final and were just one point over the 40-point limit in the final 11 minutes. In a letter seen by this masthead, the SRU also found the breach had no impact on the result, was caused by “inadvertent human error” by Uni officials and there was “no intent to exploit the PP rule”.

But Sydney University was still fined $1000 and its Level 1 Colts’ points limit was reduced to 35 points through the 2024 season.

Watkins declined to comment on Tuesday, but East End chief executive Dom Remond explained that the error occurred after new coach Ben Batger reviewed all his players’ scores and re-rated Fifita on the evidence that he had played in only four Test matches, not five.

“Unfortunately, the information came from different sources and we used that information as the basis for the reclassification and that was accepted. After that, we had a discussion and decided to now use just one source, Opta, and based on that data his score was reclassified to the previous level,” Raymond said.

“The SRU has sorted out all the issues. I’m sure some clubs are unhappy about it but we are not wrong because we used a reliable source to sort him out. We don’t send a team out that scores over 100 points.”

However, rival clubs were unhappy with SRU’s decision not to penalise East End, especially after Gordon was deducted two points in Round 11 for fielding a player, Ola Tauelangi, who did not have official clearance to play after returning from Moana Pacifica.

In a letter sent to Watkins on Monday evening and seen by this newspaper, Gordon President Matthew Glascott accused SRU of double standards.

“I find it hard to understand why East was not penalized for violating the player points rule in the game against South,” Glascott wrote.

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“Did East End breach the player points regulations? The answer is either yes or no. Why would the SRU make excuses for the club because Gordon breached the registration policy by having two points deducted for allowing a player to play in the final 20 minutes of the match. He had been cleared to play by his Super Rugby club but international clearance was not granted until Monday morning despite having played for the club for four years. How could this breach be more serious than East End’s? It is difficult for us to accept this unfairness and inconsistency.”

Glascott declined further comment Tuesday.

Rival clubs are also concerned that other players in the East End have been misclassified. A message board of disgruntled club officials has discussed not handing out Catchpole Medal votes in the remaining four rounds in protest, according to a source who declined to comment as the discussions were private.

In his letter to club owners, Watkins said all infractions would be considered on a case-by-case basis and the SRU “will decide on the penalty we believe is in the overall interests and fairness of Premiership Rugby”.

Easter escaped sanctions earlier this year Westport players complained they were subjected to racial abuse during a trial at Woollahra Oval. An SRU code of conduct hearing determined there was racial abuse but there was insufficient evidence to suggest it came from Eastport fans.