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Ronan O'Gara to face two Top 14 disciplinary hearings in a week
By Liam Heagney
La Rochelle boss Ronan O’Gara is to face two Top 14 disciplinary hearings in a week following incidents during recent matches in the French league. That Irishman was informed last week that there would be a hearing on April 6 regarding his alleged behaviour during his team’s March 26 home win over Racing 92, his former club.
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The statement at the time confirming there was a case to answer stated that O’Gara wasn’t suspended pending the hearing. That left him free to continue his work as the La Rochelle boss and he went on to become embroiled in another incident during last Saturday’s Top 14 win away to Bordeaux.
The date for this second hearing is April 13, four days after La Rochelle visit Bordeaux again for next Saturday’s opening leg their round of 16 Heineken Champions Cup tie. A Ligue Nationale de Rugby statement read: “At the end of the meeting between Bordeaux and La Rochelle, the citing commissioner as well as the referees number four and number five reported the behaviour of Ronan O’Gara, the La Rochelle coach.
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“The situation in question is likely to constitute an infringement of the general regulations of the LNR and the FFR. O’Gara and the La Rochelle club are summoned before the disciplinary and rules committee at its meeting on Wednesday, April 13. O’Gara is not suspended pending this hearing.”
Bordeaux boss Christophe Urios, with whom O’Gara clashed at Stade Chaban-Delmas, has also been informed he will face the same charge as his La Rochelle rival on the same April 13 hearing date.
The LNR statement announcing the first O’Gara hearing on April 6 again outlined that the behaviour of the Irishman warranted their attention. It read: “At the end of the La Rochelle versus Racing 92 meeting, referees number four and number five reported the behaviour of O’Gara. The situation in question is likely to constitute an infringement of the general regulations of the LNR and the FFR.
“O’Gara and the La Rochelle club are summoned before the disciplinary and rules committee at its meeting on Wednesday, April 6. O’Gara is not suspended pending this hearing.”
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