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Confusion as banned Ronan O'Gara spotted in Aviva
By Ian Cameron
Some rugby fans were confused after banned La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara was spotted in the stands in an empty Aviva Stadium in Dublin as his side took on Ulster.
The Champions Cup Round 2 match was originally scheduled to take place at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast, but the concerns over the semi-frozen pitch meant that the EPCR took the decision to make Ulster move the game to their nominated back-up stadium, which in this case was the Aviva.
The game is being played behind closed doors and cameras then picked O'Gara watching the game from behind advertising hoardings.
Many were confused on Twitter as O'Gara is currently serving a 10-week ban which the LNR slapped on him for an 'attack on best interests of rugby'.
One Ulster fan wryly wrote: "Ronan O’Gara serving a touchline ban... 5m from the touchline."
Another account observed: "How can the banned O’Gara be allowed to give instructions from an empty terrace and how come La Rochelle supporters got in but no Ulster."
Another fan wrote: "Is anyone surprised that a French club is happily allowed to get their way even when it's blatantly wrong? O'Gara even blatantly ignoring a ban and is coaching from the sidelines."
Is anyone surprised that a French club is happily allowed to get their way even when it's blatantly wrong? O'Gara even blatantly ignoring a ban and is coaching from the sidelines.
— 1 (@Jfknotme123) December 17, 2022
The argument La Rochelle and O'Gara will presumably make is that the 45-year-old is technically in the stands and not on the sideline, even if the empty stadium effectively allows him to bark commands out to his players.
His latest ban comes only two months after he was banned from the matchday touchline for six weeks after facing the charge of disrespecting a match official following the September 10 La Rochelle win at Lyon.
Despite his bans, O'Gara's time at La Rochelle has been remarkably successful. The Cork native took over as head coach of La Rochelle in 2019, after serving as an assistant coach with the team for two seasons.
Since becoming head coach, O'Gara has led La Rochelle to a number of impressive victories. In his first season as head coach, La Rochelle finished fifth in the Top 14 and reached the semi-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup. He went one better in 2022, winning the tournament by defeating Leinster. The team has continued to perform well under O'Gara's leadership and they currently sit in fourth place in the Top 14.
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It certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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