Available for the Six Nations: Ronan O'Gara
Munster fly-half Ronan O'Gara will miss Sunday's crunch Heineken Cup clash with Racing Metro after being handed a one-week suspension for foul play by an ERC disciplinary panel in Dublin on Thursday.
The Irish international was found guilty of kicking Edinburgh lock Sean Cox during the 26-17 win at Murrayfield last weekend.
It was feared that O'Gara could be hit with a lengthy punishment for the offence which usually carries a minimum ban of four weeks but the disciplinary panel decided a one-week ban would suffice, meaning the Test veteran will be eligible for Ireland's Six Nations opener against Wales on 2 February.
Under the IRB's sanctioning regime for foul play, which ERC is obliged to follow, the entry points for a breach of Law 10.4(c) where a player kicks an opponent, are 4 weeks (lower end), 8 weeks (mid range) and 12 weeks up to 52 weeks (top end).
But the independent Judicial Officer, Judge Jeff Blackett (England), found that O'Gara, who pleaded guilty, had committed a petulant act which was out of character.
He determined that the act was in the lower end (4 weeks) of the IRB's sanctioning regime and taking into account the player's guilty plea and his good disciplinary record, the Judicial Officer reduced the suspension by 50 per cent.
Judge Blackett then determined that a two-week suspension would be wholly disproportionate to the level of offending as O'Gara had been body-checked by Cox prior to the incident. He also accepted that O'Gara had intended to trip rather than to kick Cox.
As there were no aggravating factors, he imposed a suspension of one week.
O'Gara will be free to play on 21 January 2013.
Both the player and ERC have the right to appeal the decision.
Comments
Sincero says...
munch a neep and cry, then
Posted 03:36 19th January 2013
mcdb06 says...
As usual everyone is jumping on the f**k ROG bandwagon. A lot of people dislike him but you have to look at things objectively. He kicked the back of his legs to trip him up after being blocked off the ball. People here whingeing like its a crime against humanity. Too many people basing their judgements on their dislike of O'Gara rather than the incident in question. It's beyond pathetic at this stage
Posted 18:41 18th January 2013
TVaddict says...
This is a joke, deserved 3 weeks minimum.
Posted 17:50 18th January 2013
THESKUTCH says...
@Shrimps. A Valid point,no doubt old man Kidney will be back to his usual Munster biased.
Posted 12:13 18th January 2013
Dougie says...
Sincero, jesus christ that's the biggest load of shite I've ever heard.
Posted 10:47 18th January 2013
shrimps says...
@ THESKUTCH
not that i think o'gara can't act like a coward often, this seemed more like an act of frustration. i'd say that's why the ban is so lenient. i think he deserved more though. yet again another reason for an independent disciplinary body. i'd say a large proportion of irish fans are actually not happy that he can be included. there's nothing to twist kidney's arm into selecting a fresh face now in his stead.
Posted 10:43 18th January 2013
melkdave says...
Personnally i think,thatsa farce of a punishment,No player should be able to kick annother,and escape with such a joke of a ban.Just what kind of message is that sending to other players.The commitee should be fired enmass and never darken rugby again .Best way to stop this nonsense is for offences to carry automatic minamium bans ,that cant be CHANGED for such things as 1st offence ,good behaviour before ect.Headbutting ,kicking,punching all should carry 4 weeks automatic ban ,biting gouging ect 8 weeks ect .These should be minimium bans only and commitees are there only to rule on if bans should be longer ,and have no power to shorten.Present system is total joke,and players are getting away with murfer,so to speak
Posted 10:31 18th January 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
odd one - wasn't a kick it was an attempted trip - when players stick out a reflexive leg after being stepped they get longer bans but petulance appears to be much more acceptable.
Also, there seems to be little difference in the act (if not the outcome) between O'Gara's kick and Flannery's on Palisson from a couple of season's ago which earned 6 weeks.
All very strange.
Posted 10:18 18th January 2013
pierredelot1 says...
Makes you wonder what Father Xmas was doing on the disciplinary panel. One week for kicking in the head, give me a break. No doubt he'll now be named in the Irish six nations.
Posted 10:15 18th January 2013
Kent says...
As a Welshie - great news. Let's hope the little wuss is in the match day 23
Posted 08:55 18th January 2013
tha_mai says...
atg77 - agree, makes a joke of the IRB's promises last year for consistency, harsher penalties etc. They flew into tantrums over Thompson getting just one week, wanted him lynched, yet here it seems kicking is ok.
Posted 06:24 18th January 2013
Sincero says...
I'm Irish, and I have to say that's a stitch-up... 4-week minimum ban, and deserved more... his cowardice could have caused serious injury, and despite what they found, it's ENTIRELY in his character. Utter pile of shite. Cox gave him a slight knock by not getting out of his way- trust me, if it had been a body-check, Radge would have ended up the other side of half-way. Cox wasn't obliged to clear the way, but the reaction says it all- O'Gara isn't a team player, he doesn't have the temperament or consideration to play for a top team, as we all have seen. It would have been in Munster's interests (and massively in Ireland's interests, considering the Radge love-fest we've seen for the past 13 years) to have given him the appropriate ban. A wendyball heel-clip followed by dodging the scrap he'd started by being a wuss... 1 week is pathetic. Bad news for Munster... worse news for Ireland... Radge for the Lions, lads! You heard it here first!
Posted 03:38 18th January 2013
atg77 says...
What a joke, but a slap on the wrist. Sets a shocking precedent for the game and others to follow.
Posted 00:46 18th January 2013
Dougie says...
Interesting that everyone seems to think it's ok to provoke someone, but if you react you should be dragged through the coals.
Posted 00:31 18th January 2013
tha_mai says...
where is the Twitter from that prime twit Gosper demanding a review of the one week ban?
I'm lost on how a four week minimum can be halved, then halved again. So why have a four week start point at all?
Posted 23:41 17th January 2013
Spartacus says...
This seems like a fair and well considered decision. O'Gara is a ponce and a well known wind-up merchant, but Cox deserved what he got on this occasion.
Posted 23:26 17th January 2013
silphio says...
Absolutely ridiculous. What message is this sending to our young players. Very surprised that Judge Jeff Blackett, who I have always regarded as an honourable fair man has come to this outrageous decision.
Posted 22:58 17th January 2013
shrimps says...
I think Ireland would have been better off had he been banned for the 6N.
Posted 21:00 17th January 2013
steven9814 says...
O'Gara has retalliated, he should be banned for 4 weeks. He should have served the minimum taking into consideration that he was provoed. What a joke!
Posted 20:41 17th January 2013
bullitt says...
Officials in the sport of rugby union displaying their usual high standard of corruption and hypocrisy.
What do you mean he's wanted for test rugby soon? What baring did that have on the ban? None you say? Ho ho ho!
Posted 19:43 17th January 2013