Ronan O'Gara cops a ban at his latest French disciplinary hearing
La Rochelle’s preparations for next Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup visit of Irish rivals Leinster have been dealt a blow following the outcome of the latest French disciplinary hearing for their coach Ronan O’Gara.
The former Ireland out-half was called to account for his alleged behaviour towards match officials in Paris during a recent Top 14 defeat for his team at Racing 92, a summons that left O’Gara flabbergasted.
Writing last Friday in his weekly Irish Examiner column, he explained: “There were a few words exchanged with the fourth and fifth referees at half-time regarding the non-awarding of a penalty try to La Rochelle by referee Adrien Descottes.
“I have been subpoenaed for what is referred to as bad behaviour. If all the coaches in the Top 14 were accused of bad behaviour every time they questioned or commented on a wrong decision, they wouldn’t have time to do anything else in the week.”
O’Gara, who has been the subject of numerous French disciplinary hearings since taking charge at La Rochelle, has now had his latest case heard and the outcome published on Wednesday evening was a one-match ban.
A Ligue Nationale de Rugby statement read: “Ronan O'Gara was sanctioned with a one-week suspension for ‘indiscipline’. Taking into account the Stade Rochelais' fixture list, O’Gara will be requalified on December 11. In addition, the Stade Rochelais was not sanctioned.”
The decision will mean that O’Gara won't be able to be on the sidelines when La Rochelle this weekend host Leinster, the team they have defeated in the last two Champions Cup finals in Marseille and Dublin.
Teddy Thomas will also be unavailable for the rematch with Leinster as he has received a five-game ban following his red card in the same league loss at Racing.
In his Irish newspaper column last week, O'Gara further alleged that he gets treated differently by the Top 14 administrators because he is Irish. “Christophe Urios (of Clermont) has publicly criticised the referees, but he is not an Irish coach who is making his way in France,” he suggested.
“When there is guilt, you have to acknowledge it, as I have done in the past. There have been times when I have questioned decisions and expressed my frustration…
“Certainly, there is a sense here, without a hint of paranoia, that selective treatment is a concern. Others appear to be able to comment on officialdom with impunity, yet I look sideways at someone and I am up before a hearing committee again.”
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> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
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