Ronan O'Gara's injury-ravaged La Rochelle get back to winning ways with spirited win over Castres

O'Gara was without 19 players for the meeting.

La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara looks on. Pic: Gaizka IROZ / AFP via Getty Images

Ronan O’Gara’s injury-ravaged La Rochelle spoiled Castres’ 120th-anniversary celebrations with a spirited 31-26 win at Stade Pierre Fabre to end a 56-day five-match spell without a victory.

With 18 players in the infirmary and Oscar Jegou retained by France, the evening got off to the worst possible start for the visitors, when hooker Pierre Bourgarit pulled up with an ankle injury in the warm-up.