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'You've grabbed a player by the testicles' - Double red in bizarre Challenge Cup incident
By Ian Cameron
A bizarre testicles grabbing incident in the Challenge Cup match between Stade Francais and Benetton saw two players sent from the field last night in France.
Scottish referee Ben Blain felt he had no choice but to card two players, one from each team, following the incident at Stade Jean Bouin.
Stade's 21-year-old Australian blindside Charlie Rorke clearly grabbed the testicles of Italian international Leonardo Sarto in the 42nd minute of the game.
Benetton wing Sarto, rather understandably, took exception to the uninvited attack on his genitalia and lashed out with his arms and an elbow.
Sarto also appeared to throw his head towards Rorke, but failed to connect with the half-hearted effort. Referee Blain saw fit to send both off for the incident, which will surely have repercussions for Rorke.
The referee told Rorke: "You've grabbed a player by the testicles. There's no place for that in the game. Leave the field," before telling Sarto "Your reaction was not acceptable, you're having a red card as well. Off you go."
Rorke was a schoolboy rugby union star in Australia before being picked up by the NRL's Canberra Raiders. The six foot tall, 102kg back row returned to union with Stade Francais in 2020 and rather remarkably, this was his debut match for his new side.
The blatant grab, reminiscent of Joe Marler's fondle of Welsh skipper Alun Wyn Jones during the Six Nations, albeit far more violent, could see the flanker spending a long-time on the sidelines.
Marler was banned for ten weeks after appearing before an independent disciplinary committee in Dublin in March over his incident.
The Challenge Cup this year starts with 14 clubs before moving to an expanded knockout stage. This season’s Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup silverware will be decided in Marseille when the finals are staged at the Stade Vélodrome on 21 and 22 May 2021.
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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