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O'Gara facing disciplinary hearing before La Rochelle host Leinster

(Photo by Xavier Leoty/AFP via Getty Images)

Ronan O’Gara is set for another disciplinary hearing in France after match officials again took exception to his alleged bad behaviour at a Top 14 match.

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It was 14 months ago when he was suspended for six weeks and his club La Rochelle fined €10,000 after he was charged with disrespecting a match official following a September 2022 win at Lyon.

That sanction was reached after a disciplinary hearing took into account the Irishman’s previous run-ins with officials in France and that record will potentially be a factor again at his next hearing on December 6.

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Johnnie Beattie discusses what Ronan O’Gara needs to change about his coaching style | Le French Rugby Pod

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Johnnie Beattie discusses what Ronan O’Gara needs to change about his coaching style | Le French Rugby Pod

The latest trouble he has become embroiled in took place last Sunday when 14-man La Rochelle were beaten at Racing, his old club.

A Ligue Nationale de Rugby statement read: “At the end of the above-mentioned meeting [Racing vs La Rochelle], the match officials appointed at that meeting reported the behaviour of Ronan O’GARA, coach of Stade Rochelais.

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“The situation in question is likely to constitute a violation of the general regulations of the NRL and the FFR. Ronan O’Gara and the Stade Rochelais club have been summoned to appear before the disciplinary and disciplinary committee at its meeting on December 6. O’Gara is not suspended pending this hearing.”

La Rochelle were beaten 32-10 at Racing in a game where they lost Teddy Thomas to a 25th-minute red card, a dismissal that was followed a minute later by the sin-binning of Pierre Bourgarit in a first half that ended with O’Gara’s team trailing 24-3.

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Next week’s disciplinary hearing will take place four days before La Rochelle host Leinster in the opening round of this season’s Investec Champions Cup.

The French club have beaten their Irish rivals in knockout games the past three seasons, starting with the 2021 semi-final and followed by the 2022 and 2023 finals in Marseille and Dublin.

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Comments

11 Comments
S
Sumkunn Tsadmiova 405 days ago

Sadly Duncan Mcrea didn't knock enough sense into him all those years ago. The complete lack of charm that meant no Lions bothered to get involved then obviously still continues. He's as charmless as Sexton. What is it about the Ireland no. 10 jersey?

A
AJ 405 days ago

irish hooligans have 0 respect or is it a flyhalf thing ?

J
Jon 405 days ago

What did he do? Bloody Irish!

So what happened in the tunnel between him and Sexton?

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MA 2 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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