Top 14: Ronan O'Gara left counting injury cost of Bayonne defeat

La Rochelle boss Ronan O'Gara. Pic: Billy Stickland/Inpho

Ronan O’Gara was left counting the injury cost of La Rochelle’s card-heavy 26-15 defeat against 14-player Bayonne at San Sebastian’s Reale Arena a week ahead of the Challenge Cup round-of-16 outing against Prem side Newcastle Red Bulls.

Levani Botia and Will Skelton — in just his fourth outing of 2026 — both seem set to be sidelined for a few weeks after picking up injuries within minutes of each other in a clumsy first-half marked by three yellow cards and a red as tackles flew in without fear or sense of safety.