Gloucester face punishment for fielding unregistered player Mariano Galarza against Sale Sharks

Gloucester face an RFU hearing on Monday for fielding an unregistered player, Mariano Galarza, earlier this season.

The Argentina lock “did not hold effective registration” when he appeared as a replacement against Sale Sharks on March 29.

Galarza was signed from Worcester last year but suffered a shoulder injury playing for the Pumas in the Rugby Championship that required surgery and five months on the sidelines.

It is thought that the charge stems from a mix-up after a brief loan spell Galarza spent at Hartpury College to regain his fitness.

In 2013, London Welsh were docked five…