French incensed by Flannery 'scandal'
The Ligue National de Rugby (LNR), the governing body of France's Top 14 competition, has declared that it will not uphold the eight-week ban currently being served by Clermont Auvergne star Alexandre Audebert.
The Ligue National de Rugby (LNR), the governing body of France's Top 14 competition, has declared that it will not uphold the eight-week ban currently being served by Clermont Auvergne star Alexandre Audebert.
The flank was found guilty of a stamping incident in last month's Heineken Cup encounter against Munster, as was Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery.
European Rugby Cup (ERC) officials handed both players eight-week bans and both players subsequently appealed.
But the ERC's independent appeals committee, which convened in Dublin on Wednesday, opted to uphold Audebert's suspension whilst halving Flannery's ban to four weeks.
In an interview with La Montagne newspaper, LNR vice-president Patrick Wolff said that the ERC's decision to sanction the Clermont flank for the full eight-week period was unacceptable.
The LNR's own disciplinary commission has summoned Audebert to a meeting on Wednesday to discuss his suspension, and reports suggest officials will apply a four-week ban, similar to the one received by Flannery in Wednesday's appeal.
“We consider the result of the appeals concerning the two players to be a denial of justice,” said Wolff.
“To reduce Flannery's punishment when an individual's life was put in danger and then maintain [the ban] on Audebert, whose gesture was purely accidental, is unacceptable.
“We will therefore not accept stretching this sanction over eight weeks of the Top 14.”
The decision of the ERC's independent appeals commission also prompted a furious if not altogether unexpected response from Clermont president Rene Fonte.
“It's a scandal. It's pure provocation,” fumed Fonte.
“If you consider Flannery's act to be less intentional than our player, I ask what planet we're on.”
Should the LNR decide not to apply the ERC's disciplinary decision, it could influence any future disciplinary actions taken against players from French sides in ERC tournaments.
There is a growing body of opinion in French rugby that believes that sanctions arising from ERC tournaments should only be served in Europe. Wednesday's decision in Dublin may only serve to strengthen that argument.
By Ian Moriarty