FORMER MUNSTER PLAYER AND CURRENT La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara has been given a fourth suspension in a year after being banned for 10 weeks.
The legendary Irish halfback has also received a €15,000 fine by the French Rugby Union League for 'harming the best interests in rugby.'
He has also received a suspended fine of €5,000 on top of the €15,000 penalty.
O'Gara will not see a touchline until January 30th, 2023. The current European champions will face the likes of Ulster and Northampton Saints in the group stage of this year's competition before he returns.
The statement from The Disciplinary Commission of the LNR read: ""Ronan O’Gara was sanctioned with a ten-week suspension as well as a fine of €20,000, of which €5,000 was accompanied by a suspended sentence on the grounds of an ‘attack on the best interests of rugby’…
#Discipline
Voici la décision de la commission de discipline et des règlements concernant Ronan O’Gara 📄➡️ https://t.co/Pg1m8ucvEL pic.twitter.com/NJPt44p7AX— Ligue Nationale de Rugby (@LNRofficiel) November 23, 2022
“…and more particularly for ‘any breach by a person referred to in article 714, of honour or probity, any conduct violent or abusive or defamatory remarks by a person referred to in article 714 with regard to any failure to respect the duty of confidentiality, as well as any deliberate violation of the federal regulations or general regulations of the LNR or conduct likely to infringe to the image, reputation or interests of rugby or its bodies, any breach of ethics and sports ethics, any non-compliance with a decision pronounced by a disciplinary body of the LNR," continued the statement.
“Consequently, O’Gara will be requalified on January 30, 2023. Under article 65 of the LNR’s general regulations, La Rochelle were sanctioned with a fine of €20,000 including €5,000 suspended. These decisions are subject to appeal before the FFR appeals committee within seven days from the notification of the full reasoned decision.”
The Cork native can appeal against this ban.
This is O'Gara's second lengthy ban of the season having only returned to the sidelines at the beginning of November. The Munster legend was handed a six-week suspension back in September after being charged with 'disrespecting the authority of a match official.'
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