Saracens have failed to send representatives to the official launch of the Champions Cup.

The Gallagher Premiership champions were yesterday found to be in breach of the league’s salary cap regulations, receiving a 35-point deduction and being fined more than £5 million.

The club were due to be represented by director of rugby Mark McCall and club captain Brad Barritt at the launch of the premier European club competition in Cardiff but neither attended the the event.

“EPCR is disappointed to learn of Saracens’ decision to make their club representatives unavailable for today’s official 2019/20 season launch of the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup in Cardiff,” said an European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) statement.

“EPCR will now consider what action is appropriate in this instance and will be making no further comment at this time.”

Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament Show all 24 1 /24 Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament Rugby World Cup Team of the Toournament Siya Kolisi's South Africa clinched the nation's third Rugby World Cup triumph by defeating England in the final, but who makes the Team of the Tournament? Getty Images Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 15. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand) Japan 2019 wasn’t exactly a great tournament for full-backs, but Barrett continued to ooze class despite the shift from fly-half even when the going got tough for the All Blacks. It’s been quickly forgotten how dangerous he was against the Springboks way back on the opening weekend of the tournament, and took that form into the quarter-final rout of Ireland. Getty Images Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 14. Kotaro Matsushima (Japan) One of the stars of the World Cup that brought overwhelming joy to the Japanese public with his five tries in the pool stage. The wing showed you don’t have to be the biggest to be the strongest as he blended a combination of strength and agility to leave defenders in his wake, with his try against Scotland set to live long in the memory. AFP via Getty Images Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 13. Manu Tuilagi (England) Set the tone for England’s brutality with a double against Tonga and also brought fierce defence to England’s 13 channel. Got himself on the scoresheet once again against the All Blacks in that phenomenal semi-final display, but the final proved one match too far for him. AP Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 12. Damian de Allende (South Africa) Slipped under the radar somewhat heading into the World Cup due to South Africa’s powerhouse pack but De Allende was a key factor in getting the Boks to the final, scoring a try against Wales that demonstrated supreme balance a and power. Four years ago he was marked out as one of the stars of the future, this year he delivered. REUTERS Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 11. Semi Radradra (Fiji) Who can forget how Radradra took Wales to the cleaners as a one-man wrecking ball, are barrelled his way through Australia’s Reece Hodge not once but twice? Radradra put his name among the very best players in the world as Fiji left a mighty impression on the World Cup, and the only hope is that we come to see Radradra on the international stage more often over the next four years. Getty Images Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 10. Handre Pollard (South Africa) Bumps George Ford out of the side after playing an instrumental role in getting the Springboks to the final and then inspiring them past an off-colour England side with a magnificent display. His 22-point haul in the final fell just short of Matt Burke’s 1999 record of 25. AFP via Getty Images Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 9. Faf de Klerk (South Africa) His tactical awareness and craft at the breakdown caused big problems for Wales and England at the business end of the season, while his livewire approach to the attack kept the defence fixed to open up space for his teammates. On top of that, there is no better tactical-kicking scrum-half at this World Cup. AFP via Getty Images Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 1. Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa) Storms his way into the side with one of the great loosehead displays of the 21st Century. ‘Beast’ scrummaged Dan Cole into the ground, winning penalty after penalty for Pollard to convert into points, and despite being 34 years old he proved he remains a formidable tackler. AP Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 2. Shota Horie (Japan) Part of why Japan were so good to watch was the fact that their forwards were able to play an expansive passing game, and Horie led that by example. The wild-haired hooker stands out for obvious reasons, but it was his rugby that did the talking as he starred against Ireland and Scotland. AFP via Getty Images Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 3. Kyle Sinckler (England) A man who should be immensely proud with what he has achieved in Japan, with there being nothing he could do about the concussive blow in the third minute of the World Cup final that ended his tournament prematurely. Sinckler enjoyed a breakout performance against Australia in the quarter-finals, and the sight of him beaming after scoring his first international try will remain long in the memory. Getty Images, Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 4. Maro Itoje (England) Took the World Cup by storm to the point that every international team would want him on their side. Led by example, even when the going got tough as he remained one of England’s best performers when South Africa pulled away, and while there will be obvious disappointment, the lock should be very proud of what he achieved in Japan. Getty Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) Makes the squad thanks to his phenomenal defensive effort throughout the World Cup. His incredible 79 tackles across seven games proved eight more than any other player at the tournament, which for a lock takes some doing, and Wales’s failure to reach the final was by no means down to the skipper. PA Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 6. Tom Curry (England) Announced himself as a player to watch for the next decade with a string of standout displays in the No 6 shirt, having made the transition from openside flanker look a piece of cake. At 21 years old, Curry has the world before him. Getty Images Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa) Silenced the doubts with inspiring performances in South Africa’s final two games, disrupting the opposition ball and not allowing them to play at the pace they would have preferred. Played a nice role in Cheslin Kolbe’s World Cup-sealing try by sending the winger on his way. AFP via Getty Images Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 8. Duane Vermeulen (South Africa) It must be nigh-on impossible for an average human to stop the No 8 giving nothing about him is average. Vermuelen won the battle against Billy Vunipola – again, and he deserves his World Cup winners’ pedal more than most. Getty Images Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament <b>Replacements:</b> 16. Jamie George (England) England's Jamie George with his runners up medal after the 2019 Rugby World Cup final match at Yokohama Stadium. PA Photo. Picture date: Saturday November 2, 2019, See PA story RUGBYU England. Photo credit should read: Adam Davy/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. Strictly no commercial use or association. Still image use only. Use implies acceptance of RWC 2019 T&Cs (in particular Section 5 of RWC 2019 T&Cs) at URL: bit.ly/2knOId6 Adam Davy PA Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 17. Joe Moody (New Zealand) CHOFU, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 01: New Zealand player Joe Moody breaks away to score the opening try during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Bronze Final match between New Zealand and Wales at Tokyo Stadiumon November 01, 2019 in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) Stu Forster Getty Images Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 18. Frans Malherbe (South Africa) England's Manu Tuilagi, center, is tackled by South Africa's Frans Malherbe, left, during the Rugby World Cup final at International Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama, Japan, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Eugene Hoshiko AP Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 19. Lood de Jager (South Africa) Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup - Semi Final - Wales v South Africa - International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan - October 27, 2019 South Africa's Lood De Jager in action with Wales' Justin Tipuric REUTERS/Issei Kato ISSEI KATO REUTERS Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 20. Sam Underhill (England) England's Sam Underhill tackles New Zealand's Sevu Reece during the Rugby World Cup semifinal at International Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Eugene Hoshiko AP Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 21. Yutaka Nagare (Japan) Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2019 - Quarter Final - Japan v South Africa - Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - October 20, 2019 Japan's Yutaka Nagare applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Matthew Childs MATTHEW CHILDS REUTERS Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 22. George Ford (England) England's George Ford calls for calm during the 2019 Rugby World Cup Semi Final match at International Stadium Yokohama. PA Photo. Picture date: Saturday October 26, 2019. See PA story RUGBYU England. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. Strictly no commercial use or association. Still image use only. Use implies acceptance of RWC 2019 T&Cs (in particular Section 5 of RWC 2019 T&Cs) at URL: bit.ly/2knOId6 David Davies PA Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the tournament 23. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa) South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe celebrates scoring his side's second try during the Rugby World Cup final at International Yokohama Stadium between England and South Africa in Yokohama, Japan, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) Mark Baker AP

After being found guilty of salary cap breaches by an independent panel on Tuesday, Saracens described the fine and points deduction as “heavy-handed”, and confirmed they would be appealing all findings made.

The panel found that the club failed to disclose payments to players in each of the last three seasons, and exceeded the ceiling for payments to senior players in all three years, too. Salary cap regulations stipulate that a points deduction can only be levied in the current (2019/20) season.

Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter, whose side have lost to Saracens in each of the last two Premiership finals, does not expect the club to be stripped of their titles.

“If this is upheld it’s pretty obvious those titles have been won unfairly,” Baxter said at the season-launch of the Champions Cup.

“If you’re asking me would I like to walk into Sandy Park and see three Premiership trophies there, I would love to.

“In reality do I see that happening? No. There are too many other factors that come into play.”