12 - 21

WOMENS

Investec Champions Cup

Semi-final citing hands Toulouse a Champions Cup final headache

By Liam Heagney

10 May 2024

Toulouse's Santiago Chocobares (Photo by Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)

Toulouse have been given a pre-Investec Champions Cup final headache as Santiago Chocobares must face a disciplinary hearing 10 days before the French club take on Leinster in the May 25 final at Tottenham.

The Argentine back was a 69th-minute replacement for midfielder Paul Costes but his part in finishing out the 38-26 semi-final victory over Harlequins has now been called into question for a tackle on Luke Northmore, who was quickly substituted following the collision.

A statement read: “EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Stade Toulousain replacement, Santiago Chocobares (No22), arising from his club’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final match against Harlequins at Le Stadium on Sunday.

Pieter-Steph du Toit with Big Jim – Teaser trailer | RPTV

Double World Cup winning Springbok Pieter-Steph du Toit hosts Jim Hamilton in Japan for an all-encompassing chat about the Rugby World Cup, horrific injuries and Chasing the Sun 2. Watch the full chat on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

“Chocobares is alleged to have tackled the Harlequins centre, Luke Northmore (No13), in a dangerous manner in the 74th minute of the match in contravention of law 9.13. The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Beth Dickens (Scotland).

“Benjamin Rutherford (Ireland, chair), Valeriu Toma (Romania), and Roddy MacLeod (Scotland) have been appointed as the independent disciplinary committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference on Wednesday, May 15.”

Fixture

Investec Champions Cup

Leinster

22 - 31

Full-time

Toulouse

All Stats and Data

Classic Wallabies vs British & Irish Legends | First Match | Full Match Replay

Did the Lions loosies get away with murder? And revisiting the Springboks lift | Whistle Watch

The First Test, Visiting The Great Barrier Reef & Poetry with Pierre | Ep 6: The Ultimate Test

KOKO Show | July 22nd | Full Throttle with Brisbane Test Review and Melbourne Preview

New Zealand v South Africa | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

USA vs England | Men's International | Full Match Replay

France v Argentina | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

Lions Share | Episode 4

Comments

6 Comments

HC 440 days ago

Toulouse has enough quality players so no headaches 😁 Choco is rarely a starting centre. Throughout this championship there have been far worse actions that were never called… too many rules, too many rule changes, too many inconsistencies, too many angry fans. I'm not surprised rugby does not attract new spectators, how could they understand 🤣

Soliloquin 441 days ago

If he was to be cited for a dangerous behavior, then it’s natural that he should be.

Then NTamack too, yes?

And I’ll add a good whataboutism - Yeandle eye-gouging on Richie Arnold: not cited. Eye-gouging. Not high tackle. Eye-gouging.

It was on French TV, with French TV directors.

Ed the Duck 442 days ago

Yes, another example of French tv directors ensuring that incidents like this are swiftly glossed over for the benefit of their teams…

MM 441 days ago

The officials do not rely on french TV live broadcast to see infringements and make their decisions. They have access to all the livestream from every camera. So your point is irrelevant really…

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Latest Features

LONG READ

How the Lions' injury-dogged 'Jukebox' Tadhg Furlong is still producing great hits

Despite a heavily disrupted season, Ireland's cornerstone tighthead is rolling back the years Down Under as he prepares to start an eighth straight Test.

LONG READ

Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

The All Blacks are stacked at least four deep in most positions, but Scott Robertson will be concerned by his options in the playmaking roles.

LONG READ

Ben Kay: 'I've never seen a Lions team attack so well; Finn Russell is unplayable'

Using a basic attack shape which has been around for years, the tourists are giving their Scottish supremo an armchair ride.

Comments on RugbyPass

johnz 19 minutes ago

Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

You risk very much rewarding effort, loyalty, and commitment over talent, performance and potential. That’s fine for a 1980s rugby club, but that’s not how professional sport works. A few points on that:

I didn’t get the impression NZR made a big effort to keep Leicester in the country, despite his undeniable talent, which overseas professional clubs could easily spot.

Yet they certainly threw a good chunk of money at Ioane. Because he’s been loyal. And disappointing. I suspect NZR offered way below Leicester’s market value because he didn’t pass some abstract loyalty or service test.

So he took the option to go where he’s valued at fair market value.

We risk losing a lot of young talent to overseas clubs, because they can see older players get the best contracts based on hierarchy and service.

And these abstract rules don’t exactly encourage these highly valued professionals to return, because they know that when they get back, they are not even eligible for the national team. Because they don’t deserve it, apparently.

40 Go to comments

Jfp123 32 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Some positions have greater need of depth building than others. Imo, 9 has plenty of depth, but not 10. So I wouldn’t worry so much about Le Garrec, who is a fabulous player who would walk into most international teams, but I would be searching for a better back up for Ntamack and Ramos in 10.

Who that would be, I’m not sure. Galthier chose Segonds and Hastoy for the NZ tour, and what restrictions on selection and what larger aims led him to do so, I couldn’t say, of course. Personally, I think it was correct not to take MJ, as I think a new back up 10 needs to be found.

Probably no candidate will have such individual brilliance in attack as MJ, but then French A has plenty of attacking flair anyway. For some of the skills I think are needed in a 10, see the list in my previous comment.

329 Go to comments

CO 46 minutes ago

New All Blacks locks squeezing captain Barrett out of contention

I think so

97 Go to comments

BC 58 minutes ago

What improvements can we expect to see from Wales in Australia Tests?

Bit of a setback for Australia losing to Wales, though having watched the second half Australia dominated but didn’t turn that dominance into points. It was a combination of dogged defence, a spluttering lineout but most importantly an inability to hold on to the ball. Admittedly in that weather it was probably like a piece of soap. They will hope for dry conditions next week. I thought they would win by 20 points this week.

2 Go to comments

TI 1 hour ago

Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

Great job NZR. First you drove him away, and now you punish him for returning.

Vengeful little teenage sorority club.

40 Go to comments

Howbzr76 1 hour ago

Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

Aah yes he should. He chose the big bux up north, local boys deserve priority imo. Money or prestige 🤔🤔

40 Go to comments

J Marc 1 hour ago

Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

I don't know the numbers you are talking about. The study which I was talking about is coming directly from the insurance numbers, so I think FFR have it. I don't know NZ or British laws very well but I think legal responsability is not exactly the same in France. Individual responsability is not enough admited by the courts in France and I think that is why this subject is ,perhaps, more on the table for FFR and LNR.

For the tackler's concussion, they are include in the numbers but I think they are not separate. Does these laws increase the tacklers concussion ? I don't know. But we saw in the last NZ FR séries that with the current rules there are allready some head on the hip and even a head on Woki's knee…

230 Go to comments

Howbzr76 1 hour ago

Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

I agree- he just got back to nz, and he’s eligible straight away??Building solid combinations takes years, if players want to put profit before championships then honestly each to their own- but don't expect to come back home, when others have been doing the hard grind locally, to just walk into any rep team. The jersey HAS to be earnt on merit, not just some decent form in the past. Winning tests is not everything. Our lads who choose to play here, foregoing the money overseas deserve priority. Do the Hard grind, it’s the k1w1 way.

40 Go to comments

J Marc 2 hours ago

Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

In France rugby at school is very rare.

The more often, it's a seven version on a reduce pitch. Sports teachers favorite sport is handball and it's a blessing for it and a problem for the others. So it's hard to compare. I think the NZ school rugby system you describe is close to the french one in lower levels and to what english RFU would have try to copy if the clubs had been OK…

230 Go to comments

SadersMan 2 hours ago

Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Sounds lame bro.

253 Go to comments

SadersMan 2 hours ago

New All Blacks locks squeezing captain Barrett out of contention

Well that’s the counter argument. I disagree. If someone’s available for NPC, they’re eligible.

97 Go to comments

Hammer Head 2 hours ago

Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Wrll I GOOGLED the name ROIGATD as I mis spelt it and surprise surprise!!!!! Up came Cam Roigard, NZ rugby player, as the first option.

Wrll said!

253 Go to comments

Hammer Head 3 hours ago

Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Like who?

253 Go to comments

Hammer Head 3 hours ago

Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Yes sure.

Two world cups is far worse.

253 Go to comments

Hammer Head 3 hours ago

Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Wrll, wrll, wrll.

What do we have here!?

253 Go to comments

Hammer Head 3 hours ago

Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Just 80% is fine.

England did 89% in 2020

France did 100% in 2022

Ireland did 92% in 2022

South Africa did 85% back to back 2023 and 2024.

So +80% has been done plenty.

Only knew Zeland hasn’t done >80% in the last 6 completed seasons. Average of 68% 2019 - 2024.

This year you’ll do it I reckon.

253 Go to comments

JH 3 hours ago

Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

I’d say his plan is play the next world cup, try and get a winner’s medal, then immediately hop the plane back to France and turn out for Tonga in 3031 while also cashing those club cheques.

I don’t agree with the NZR policy as such, because they may as well get their money’s worth while he’s here, but I can certainly see how they’d be viewing his ‘stay’ as a not particularly loyal one.

40 Go to comments

JW 3 hours ago

New All Blacks locks squeezing captain Barrett out of contention

Nar, it doesn’t make snse, as that just tells everyone that’s leaves the jerseys theres when they get back.

Exactly the wrong message loyal players want to hear, and would cause to also leave in future.

True though, he could have played wing, I was only thinking of center.

97 Go to comments

Hammer Head 3 hours ago

Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

In your skull cavity?

253 Go to comments

Hammer Head 3 hours ago