Ronan O'Gara cops new ten-week suspension from French rugby bosses

Latest ban will see him limited in match-day access to La Rochelle players until January 30

BANNED: Ronan O'Gara

LA Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara has been hit with a fresh ten-week suspension by the Top 14's disciplinary committee for "behaviour likely to damage the image, reputation or interests of rugby or its bodies".

The ban is a significant blow to O'Gara, who only returned to full sideline access for the European champions earlier this month after serving a six week ban for "disrespecting the authority of an official" in La Rochellle's Top 14 win over Lyon early on in the campaign.

A special commission, comprised of officials from the Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR) and the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), heard the case Wednesday over remarks relating, in particular, to the standard and consistency of refereeing in the Top 14, made to leading French referees official, Franck Maciello.

The coach has also been fined €20,000, of which €5,000 is suspended, while the club has received a matching fine, the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), which runs the top two professional men’s divisions in France, said in a statement on Wednesday The ban will limit O'Gara's access to the players on match days up until January 30 next year.

That means O'Gara will not be in the dressing room for any of the defending champions’ Heineken Cup pool games in December or January, against Premiership side Northampton Saints and URC rivals Ulster.

He will also miss seven rounds of the domestic competition, during which La Rochelle will face Castres, Bordeaux, Racing 92 and Toulouse. He is due to return in time for the match against Lyon at Marcel Deflandre on the weekend the 2023 Six Nations kicks off, when a number of his key players are expected to be away for the opener against Ireland in Dublin. La Rochelle currently sit second in the Top 14.

It is understood, in broad terms, that his latest brush with the disciplinary panel - his third this year - has arisen from ongoing frustration at the inconsistent application of the rules and laws of the game, especially head-high hits. His comments on those perceived inconsistencies - particularly following La Rochelle’s 26-17 defeat at Toulouse last month - led to an investigation and hearing on Wednesday by the LNR's president, René Bouscatel, and the secretary general of the FFR, Christian Dullin.

Midi Olympique reported that O’Gara had written “unwelcome” complaints to France’s national refereeing director Franck Maciello, most recently following La Rochelle’s 26-17 defeat at Toulouse on October 23. The precise contents of the complaints remain private.

Quoting unnamed LNR sources, Midi Olympique reported that O'Gara had vented his frustration via text messages to the referees' chief and made "very unwelcome" comments.

Not helping the Munster legend's case is the fact that he is now deemed a repeat offender, having just come back from a six-week ban, and having already served a two-week suspension following an altercation with match officials at a match between La Rochelle and Racing 92 in May.

O'Gara and La Rochelle have yet to decide whether to appeal their respective punishments. Both have a week to decide.