The Ospreys await their Heineken Cup fate after Leicester Tigers made a complaint as the Ospreys played with 16 men for part of their 17-12 triumph.
The Welsh region knocked Leicester out as they qualified for the quarter-finals with their Liberty Stadium win.
The confusion was in the final quarter when full-back Lee Byrne returned from the blood-bin and his replacement Sonny Parker stayed on for a brief period.
The Ospreys are likely to be hit with a fine rather than European expulsion.
Tournament organisers European Rugby Cup will investigate the events in Swansea after Tigers chief executive Peter Wheeler and chairman Peter Tom lodged an official complaint immediately after the dramatic showdown.
Competition rules suggest the match result must stand, yet the Ospreys still face an anxious wait to discover what punishment – if any – ERC decides to impose.
England were fined £10,000 during the 2003 World Cup when wing Dan Luger featured as a 16th player for 34 seconds of their group-stage win against Samoa in Melbourne.
Unlike in Luger’s case, it is claimed on this occasion that Ospreys’ Wales and British Lions full-back Lee Byrne was involved in helping to thwart an opposition attack.

Byrne had gone off suffering from a dislocated and bloodied toe, being replaced by centre Sonny Parker, but Byrne was sent back on three minutes later without any of his team-mates going off.
Fly-half Dan Biggar’s departed in the 73rd minute after about a minute returned the Welsh region to 15 men as the Ospreys held on during a torrid finale of constant Leicester pressure.
A Leicester player pointed out the Ospreys’ numerical advantage to referee Alan Lewis, who then berated an Ospreys touchline official for not informing the match fourth official that Byrne had returned.
Lewis should have awarded Leicester a penalty once the extra-man situation became apparent.
Leicester chief executive Peter Wheeler said: “During a significant part of the game, the Ospreys had 16 players on the pitch, and he was involved in a break by Ben Youngs being stopped from developing.
“We think the interference of the 16th man was significant – you are only entitled to have 15 players on the pitch.
“We think it affected the outcome of the game. The players put their heart and soul into it out there, and they deserve to be treated fairly.”
Tigers chairman Peter Tom added: “A serious error has been made. We are 12 years or so into the professional game, and it is time administrative procedures were sorted out.
“There has been a significant mistake that could be said to have had an impact on the game.
“People who administer the game have to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Referee Alan Lewis gave a dressing down to an Ospreys official over the incident, telling her she should have told the game’s fourth official Byrne was returning to the field.
Byrne could be seen signalling to a team-mate he should depart, but did not leave the field when his message did not get through.

International Rugby Board rules state: “At any time before or during a match a team may make an objection to the referee about the number of players in their opponents’ team.
“As soon as the referee knows that a team has too many players, the referee must order the captain of that team to reduce the number appropriately.
“The score at the time of the objection remains unaltered.
“Sanction: Penalty at the place where the game would restart.”
No penalty was awarded by Lewis and the IRB regulation suggests the result will stand. However, ERC officials are duty-bound to investigate.
Leicester coach Richard Cockerill said: “I am sure they (Ospreys) didn’t do it purposely. I don’t think it had a bearing on the result.
“We were beaten fair and square. I am a lover of the game, and I am sure it was a mistake by somebody.”
Ospreys boss Scott Johnson said: “This is one for the officials. They can work it out.

“There was a call for Lee Byrne to come on and ‘X’ to come off – that was the instruction.
“Byrne came off as a blood bin, and maybe that’s where the confusion was. You just give instructions as a coach.”
And in a brief statement, the Ospreys said: “We are aware that a complaint has been lodged with ERC by Leicester Tigers.
“The matter is now in the hands of the ERC, and as such, it would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment on this issue.”
An ERC spokeswoman confirmed to BBC Sport that the ERC are “looking at the case” and will make a statement on Sunday.

Leicester have confirmed Richard Cockerill as their permanent head coach with immediate effect.

The 38-year-old former hooker has been acting head coach since Christmas when Heyneke Meyer was forced to return to South Africa for personal reasons.

Since then, he has guided the team to the top of the Guinness Premiership and into the Heineken Cup semi-finals.

“This club has been a big part of my life and I feel privileged to be given the appointment,” he said.

“I know that the job of head coach at Leicester Tigers is one of the biggest jobs in rugby.

“The players have been fantastic and I have had great support from the staff. I am very happy to be appointed and I just want success for Leicester Tigers and the people here.”

As a player, Cockerill won five league titles and two Heineken Cup medals with the Tigers, and collected 27 England caps.

Club chairman Peter Tom added: “Richard has been doing a tremendous job as acting head coach and we have been very impressed by his work in that role.

“He knows what makes this club tick and he is very passionate about bringing the best out of the players and bringing success to Leicester Tigers.

“We are convinced thathe is the man to continue to push us forward

Sale punished Leicester’s lack of precision with victory in a tense Premiership encounter at Edgeley Park.

The Sharks scored through Rory Lamont in the first half, while four Charlie Hodgson penalties and one from Luke McAlister kept the champions at bay.

The Tigers also crossed with Johne Murphy before the break but Andy Goode suffered an off day with the boot.

Leicester’s lack of discipline also cost them as Sale leapfrogged the Tigers to go fourth in the league.

Sale have not lost at Edgeley Park since a 26-25 defeat against Leicester in April, while the visitors’ losing bonus point kept them fifth in the table, level on points with Harlequins.

The endeavour was high in the opening period but both sides were struggling to find any cohesion and set-piece and handling errors abounded.

Sale raced into an early lead with two Hodgson penalties before Goode slotted his first kick for the Tigers.

The Sharks thought they had clinched the first try on the half hour mark when Julien Laharrague rumbled over but the referee ruled he was held up.

From the ensuing scrum, though, Sale were awarded a penalty and the Sharks went away with another three points.

Shortly after, Goode made a promising foray into Sale’s half and was rewarded with a penalty, but pulled his kick left of the posts.

But the game exploded into life just before the break when things finally clicked for both sides.

Hodgson’s chip launched a flowing Sale attack involving former All Black McAlister, and French pair Sebastien Chabal and Sebastien Bruno before the fly-half fired a long pass out left to send wing Lamont crashing over.

Leicester followed through with their own threat almost immediately from the kick-off, when Goode broke left from a scrum in midfield and looped around Ollie Smith to find Johne Murphy who sliced over in the left corner.

The Tigers built on the momentum after the break and Goode landed a second penalty, shortly after missing with a drop-goal attempt.

Sale hit back with a spell of possession but looked set to be punished for failing to convert pressure into points when Leicester earned a penalty upfield.

Goode pointed at the sticks but pushed his kick right and Sale’s fragile three-point lead remained intact until the Tigers number 10 slotted a long penalty with 20 minutes left.

Instantly, though, the Tigers forwards gave away another penalty and Hodgson reclaimed the lead for Sale.

Tigers wing Tom Varndell went close to a try but was bundled into the corner flag as he sniffed the line and Goode hit the post with a penalty as Leicester squandered their mounting territorial advantage.

And as the end loomed, McAlister slotted a game-clinching penalty to seal Leicester’s demise.

Leicester ground out an important victory against French giants Toulouse at a boggy Welford Road to keep their Heineken Cup Pool Six hopes alive.

Valentin Courrent landed a penalty to put Toulouse ahead before the Tigers hit back through Ollie Smith’s try.

Two Andy Goode penalties to a penalty and a drop-goal from Courrent meant Leicester led 11-9 after 55 minutes.

Goode made sure of victory with a 72nd minute penalty, but Toulouse went home with an important losing bonus point.

With Leicester having lost away to Leinster in their opening match in the competition they can ill-afford to lose any of their home games and they needed all their traditional grit to see off Pool Six leaders Toulouse.

The French side may have an impressive pack but what they are really renowned for is their free-flowing style, while Leicester’s traditional gameplan is more robust.

With heavy rain having made the Welford Road pitch very boggy it suggested the visitors might take a more conservative approach than usual but there was no sign of that when the game started.

The visitors, the only three-time winners of the competition, launched two scything counter attacks in the first five minutes and their early pressure paid off when Courrent edged them into the lead with a penalty.

The French giants were trying to play the game at pace but it cost them dear when Clement Poitrenaud panicked when he was tackled in his 22 after the visitors took a quick throw-in.
The exciting Toulouse backs rarely broke free from the Tigers’ defence 

Smith, playing out of position on the wing, picked up the full-back’s loose pass superbly on the run and had the pace to beat the cover and cross out wide, with Goode narrowly unable to add the conversion.

As the half wore on Leicester’s power game saw them secure the upper hand in the territorial battle and they gained their reward through a Goode penalty.

But when the French visitors managed to establish a beachhead in the Tigers’ half Courrent popped over a drop-goal to ensure they only trailed 8-6 at the break.

With the pitch cutting up and the ball very greasy the match had become increasingly attritional as the half wore on but Toulouse sparked back into life immediately after the restart.

When a cheeky pass from replacement Tigers scum-half Ben Youngs failed to go to hand the French side countered with a superb flowing attack.

Leicester had to infringe to bring it to a halt and Courrent made no mistake to put the visitors back into the lead.

However, Toulouse kept playing themselves into trouble and when Vincent Clerc threw a suicidal pass Courrent held on at the resulting ruck and Goode kicked the Tigers back into the lead.

The fly-half added another penalty inside the final 10 minutes but the hosts had a huge scare when Clerc was called back for a forward pass as he cruised round under the posts.

They might not have sneaked victory at the death but Toulouse did manage to stay within seven points to claim what could be a vital losing bonus point in a very tight group.

Leicester travel to Toulouse next week for a rematch which will go a long way to deciding who qualifies for the knock-out stages.

England wing Ben Cohen could miss the entire Premiership season after his proposed move to Leicester fell foul of English rugby’s financial regulations.

 
The 29-year-old bought himself out of his Northampton contract so he could join the Tigers, but his testimonial earnings would have to go with him.

And that would force Leicester to exceed the Premiership’s salary cap.

“It’s beyond our control and we can’t afford it,” Tigers coach Richard Cockerill told BBC Radio Northampton.

Cohen’s testimonial year at Northampton, where he spent 10 years, is expected to raise around £300,000.

If that figure was combined with the earnings of the other players already at Leicester it would take the Tigers above the permitted figure of £2.182m for a first-team squad.

Premier Rugby manager Phil Winstanley sympathised with Cohen’s plight, but offered little encouragement the matter would be resolved in the winger’s favour.

“We don’t want to stop Ben playing rugby, that certainly isn’t the intention, but under the rules testimonial earnings are salary,” said Winstanley.

“He hasn’t been with Leicester long term, so they wouldn’t be entitled to a dispensation not to include those earnings.

“They need to determine if they have sufficient space in their salary cap to accommodate Ben.”

When asked for Leicester’s reaction Cockerill added: “Were we interested in him? Yes. Is that going to happen? No, because we can’t afford it. It’s unfortunate but we have to abide by the rules.”
 
Professional Rugby Players’ Association chief executive Damian Hopley added that plans were under way to act on Cohen’s behalf, but was also cautious.

“We’re exploring every possibility and have spoken to a number of lawyers about how we can challenge the salary cap regulations,” he said.

“But even if we were successful it would be well after the season has finished. It’s just intensely frustrating that a player is unable to ply his trade because he’s been rewarded for his loyalty to one club.”

England winger Cohen, part of the 2003 World Cup-wining side, missed this year’s World Cup for family reasons and has yet to play this season.

Cohen has won 57 caps for England and is the country’s second-highest try scorer of all time, alongside Will Greenwood, with 31.