Ronan O’Gara has been suspended for two weeks by the disciplinary committee of the Ligue Nationale du Rugby after being held “responsible for indiscipline, in particular for challenging the decisions of match officials” during La Rochelle’s 19-0 Top 14 victory at home against Racing 92 two weeks ago.
La Rochelle was also fined €10,000, half of which was suspended.
Ironically, the decision by the disciplinary committee means that O'Gara will not be on the sidelines for his club's forthcoming two legs in their Champions Cup Round of 16 tie against Bordeaux Begles, beginning with an away first leg on Saturday, and thus cannot renew acquaintances with Christophe Urios.
O’Gara and his Bordeaux counterpart, who has had previous touchline altercations with opposing head coaches before, had an angry head-to-head exchange after La Rochelle’s 16-15 away win in the Top 14 last weekend. Both parties face a disciplinary hearing for that incident next Wednesday.
