Liskeard-Looe Rugby Club has been fiercely criticised by Liskeard Town Council over the offensive match programme controversy.

The club was fined £2,500 this week after officials attended a hearing in Bristol.

This followed charges by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) of publishing profane and offensive material in the semi-final programme for the EDF Junior Vase against Lowestoft and Yarmouth on March 21.

The club has, however, been allowed to play in the final which will be held at Twickenham on May 9.

It admitted on the club website that officials were not aware of the contents of the programme and had failed to check it before it was distributed.

They club has since published an apology on its website but the town council believes that the town has suffered following a 'catastrophic management failure' at the club.

A statement released yesterday by the council said: 'The apology issued by Liskeard and Looe Rugby Football Club fails to acknowledge that through its actions it has tarnished the good name of this town and its residents.

'The town council believes that the catastrophic management failure to put in place a simple process of monitoring on such an important issue, and on such an important day for the club and the town was a case of gross negligence.

'We support the action taken by the RFU panel and wish to offer our regrets to both them and EDF Energy for actions taken in Liskeard's name.

'We are pleased that the club has been permitted to play and wish each player the best on the day.'

Chairman of the RFU disciplinary panel, Chris Quinlan, said: 'This is an extremely serious case.

'As the club recognised in the hearing, the offending material brought the game into disrepute.

'Why such material was ever published is beyond our comprehension.'

The statement released by the club also confirms that the person who was responsible has been banned for life, however the individual has not been named.

The programme was printed by KitzKatz Printshop, Fowey.

In addition to the financial penalty, the club must also write an unreserved apology to the chairman of Lowestoft and Yarmouth, Keith Nelson, and the chairman and chief executive officer of the competition sponsors, EDF Energy.