The incident at Keighley Cougars' Challenge Cup tie against Fryston Warriers. Video: Keighley Cougars

COUGARS have confirmed that the RFL are to investigate the brawl in their Challenge Cup win over Fryston which led to forward Emmerson Whittel suffering a broken jaw.

Keighley have released a statement in which they state that the incident involving Whittel was 'not in the spirit of the game'.

They have also asked the RFL to investigate the incident which saw Josh Lynam receive an ear-bite and have expressed 'outrage' after claiming the squad and backroom staff were refused entry to the ground without match-day tickets.

Cougars' statement reads: "The club has received official confirmation from the RFL that an investigation is taking place into the brawl that marred an otherwise enthralling cup tie.

"Emmerson Whittel sustained a broken jaw and we believe as a club that the way he was man handled by numerous Fryston players is not in the spirit of the game.

"The club have also requested that the ear bite on Josh Lynam is reviewed thoroughly by the RFL.

"Finally, the club have also lodged a formal complaint in regards to the manner our players and staff were treated upon arrival.

"Both the 19 man squad and members of the backroom staff were refused entry to the ground without a valid matchday ticket.

"The players allocation of family and friends tickets was then claimed to have been used to admit the playing squad to the ground.

"The club is outraged by this development and will now not make any further statements as we await a full report from the RFL."

An RFL spokesman confirmed that the league's operations team has started gathering evidence and reports into off-field incidents while the match-review panel will consider any foul play at its weekly meeting on Thursday.

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