Leigh Leopards and Wigan Warriors will undergo an independent investigation into their conduct and actions over the past 12 months, the Rugby Football League (RFL) has said.
Leopards and Warriors have had an ongoing dispute for nearly 12 months, dating back to the high-profile ticket saga that led to Leigh’s Derek Beaumont says his club will not be attending the match over a dispute over their 4,800 ticket allocation.
They eventually played the game and were eliminated from the play-offs with Wigan winning 18-6.
With Warriors set to host Wakefield in the play-off semi-finals on Saturday, matters flared up again at the weekend after an original post from Wigan detailed ticket arrangements for whichever side visiting the Brick this weekend in the play-offs would receive an allocation of 5,000 tickets for security reasons.
Leigh were beaten by Wakefield Trinity in their knockout gamewhere a win for Leopards would have seen them progress to face Wigan at home.
Beaumont thrust himself back into the spotlight with a tirade on social media site X following Wigan’s statement and his activity could also breach the RFL’s code of conduct on social media.
The RFL said in a statement: “The Rugby Football League and RL Boards of Trade have issued a letter to Leigh Leopards RLFC and Wigan Warriors RLFC advising them that there will be an independent investigation into the conduct and actions of both clubs and the governing body in relation to matters spanning the past 12 months.
“RFL and RL Commercial will make no further comment until the investigation is complete.”
Wigan finished top of the regular season Super League table, while Leigh finished fifth.
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Wigan beat Catalans Dragons 50-12 to finish top of the Super League table and win the League Leaders’ Shield
Results and schedule of the Superliga play offs
qualifiers
September 18: Wakefield Trinity 26-16 Leigh Leopards
September 19: Warrington Wolves 35-12 Hull KR
semifinals
Semi Final 1 – Friday 25 September, Leeds Rhinos vs TBC, 20:00 KO on Sky Sports
Semi Final 2 – Saturday 26 September, Wigan Warriors v TBC, 5.30pm KO on Sky Sports
The Super League play-offs are underway, live on Sky Sports, and continue until the grand final from Old Trafford on October 3.