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Ronan O'Gara slapped with heavy ban at Top 14 disciplinary hearing

(Photo by Xavier Leoty/AFP via Getty Images

Heineken Champions Cup-winning coach Ronan O’Gara has been banned from the touchline for six weeks by officials in France following his latest brush with Top 14 officialdom as director of rugby at La Rochelle. The Irishman, whose team are currently leading the way in first place in the top flight following three successive wins, faced the charge of disrespecting a match official following the September 10 win at Lyon.

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O’Gara’s numerous previous run-ins with the French disciplinary process were a factor at the hearing as his case was given a six-week entry point when it came to punishment and the suspension was initially increased to eight due to his previous disciplinary record before being reduced back to six when mitigating factors were taken into account. His club were also fined €10,000.

A Top 14 statement read: “Ronan O’Gara was found responsible for ‘action against match official’ and more particularly of ‘disrespecting the authority of a match official’. It was the higher degree of the scale of gravity which was retained, that is to say a suspension of six weeks.

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“After taking into account the aggravating circumstance (his disciplinary record), the penalty was increased by two weeks. After taking into account the mitigating circumstances (his acknowledgement of guilt and conduct before and during the hearing), the sanction was reduced by two weeks.

“Mr O’Gara is suspended for six weeks and will be requalified on October 31, 2022. Under article 65 of the LNR’s general regulations, Stade Rochelais was sanctioned with €10,000 fine. This sanction has the effect of revoking the fine of €5,000 accompanied by the suspended sentence pronounced by the commission on April 6, 2022, against Stade Rochelais.”

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The ban means that O’Gara will not be on the touchline for his team’s next six matches, starting with this Sunday’s La Rochelle trip to Clermont and ending with the late October home game versus Pau. He is due to co-coach the Barbarians along with Crusaders boss Scott Robertson in London against an All Blacks XV in November.

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1 Comment
A
AOK 791 days ago

What the hell did he say to garner a six week ban??

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JW 2 hours ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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