Ronan O’Gara Faces Extended Ban Following Referee Incident
Ronan O’Gara, the head coach of La Rochelle, is facing an extended ban due to his unsportsmanlike conduct towards a referee. This decision comes after an appeal by the Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR) resulted in an increase from his original two-week suspension to four weeks.
Details of the Incident
The incident for which O’Gara was penalized occurred after La Rochelle’s defeat against Pau in Round 11 of the TOP 14. La Rochelle lost the match with a score of 53-33. The turning point came when their fly-half, Antoine Hastoy, was sent off just a minute into the game. O’Gara himself was dismissed shortly after, in the 57th minute.
Specifics of the Ban
- Initial Ban: Two weeks for disrespecting the authority of referee Jérémy Rozier.
- Extended Ban: Increased to four weeks after FFR appealed the first decision.
- Upcoming Matches Affected: O’Gara will miss the next match against Montpellier.
Comparable Case: Janick Tarrit
In a related incident, Racing 92 hooker Janick Tarrit also faced an appeal that resulted in an extended ban. Originally suspended for five weeks after delivering a head-butt to Toulouse’s Efrain Elias, Tarrit’s suspension was increased to eight weeks, adding another three weeks to his punishment. He had previously returned to action in early January.
The implications of both cases underline the strict stance taken by rugby authorities against violent conduct and disrespect towards officials, aiming to maintain the integrity of the sport.
