Northampton make 'big statement' by renewing contracts of five players, including Tom Wood Representatives from the Saints will appear on Wendesday in front of a disciplinary hearing chaired by three club chief executives in central London for breaching Premiership Rugby's policy over their release of North for Wales's Test against Australia on Nov 30. Northampton are facing a fine of up to £30,000 after admitting last month that they had acted "outside Premiership Rugby board policy" by releasing the British and Irish Lions wing for the match. The defeat by Australia fell outside the IRB's official three-week autumn grace period, and Premiership Rugby's policy is that only England players can be released for such matches or training camps given its agreement with the Rugby Football Union. Northampton said that their agreement with North, whom they signed in April, to release him for all Wales games if selected had "not contravened any rules, laws or regulations" and argued that the recruitment of the player had "benefited both the club and the league as a whole." It is understood that the hearing is also likely to address the issue of further potential breaches by the club, for example if North is released for training camps for Wales in the Six Nations that fall outside the IRB window. Meanwhile, the decision by England full-back Delon Armitage to sign a new two-year deal Toulon, which effectively rules the former London Irish player out of the 2015 World Cup, could affect the French Top 14 club's interest in signing Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny. The 26-times capped international's future was in doubt in recent weeks with his current deal set to expire at the end of this season, and with Halfpenny having being lined up as a replacement. Toulon, however, are thought to be concerned about Halfpenny's potential availability given his national commitments with Wales in the build up to the 2015 World Cup. London Irish have signed Glasgow prop Kevin Bryce on loan for a month. The 25-year-old is a former Scotland Under-18 and U19 forward, and arrives as injury cover for David Paice who is out with a fractured radius. Ireland hooker Rory Best has signed a new two-year Irish central contract that will keep him at Ulster until June 2016.