WATCH: Coaches handed suspensions after coming to blows in Major League Rugby clash

Adam Kyriacou 27 Apr 2023 4:15 PM

Tempers flared as coaches Pote Human and Ollie Richardson got into a fight during the MLR game between Houston Sabercats and Rugby New York.

Sabercats head coach Pote Human and New York head of high-performance Ollie Richardson have both been handed six-week suspensions and fined after clashing in a Major League Rugby game over the weekend.

Tempers flared in the match on Sunday as the pair locked horns during a break in play.

According to a post by a supporter, Richardson came onto the field during a water break and was ‘yelling and pointing at Houston players’.

Human did not take kindly to this and stormed onto the pitch to tell Richardson off, and that’s where the pair clashed.

Slap from Pote Human

Human hit out first, slapping Richardson across the face, and the New York coach reacted after breaking through from someone holding him back. He headed straight for Human and punched the Sabercats’ coach before the pair were separated again.

Both coaches were ejected from the match by the referee and have now been suspended and fined an unspecified amount that will be donated to charity.

Last night, Major League Rugby fished out their punishment for Pote Human and Ollie Richardson’s actions in the video below.

Both coaches have been suspended for six weeks and fined an undefined amount, with that money going to charity.

📹 @r_MLRugby pic.twitter.com/4OXA6R7M38

— Joe Harvey (@joeharvey34) April 27, 2023

Human is the former head coach of the Bulls and also held roles with the Griffons, Ricoh Black Rams and UP Tuks before he joined the Sabercats under former Springbok head coach Heyneke Meyer.

Victory keeps Houston in the running

Houston went on to win the game 34-27 thanks to tries from Davy Coetzer, Carlo de Nysschen, Vereniki Tikoisolomone, Dean Muir and Christian Dyer. Fly-half Coetzer also added three conversions and a penalty taking his personal haul to 14.

New York scored tries through Conor McManus, Brooklyn Hardaker, Andrew Coe and Nick Feakes.

The win for Houston keeps them in the running for the Western Conference as they are just four league points shy of their next opponents and Conference leaders, San Diego Legion.

Meanwhile, the loss for New York saw them slip to third place on the Eastern Conference as Old Glory DC moved into second spot after their 36-22 win over Utah.

USA scrum-half to leave Saracens

Elsewhere, USA scrum-half Ruben de Haas will leave Premiership giants Saracens at the end of the current season to join the Cheetahs in South Africa.

The scrum-half, who has made 20 appearances for Saracens over the last two seasons, has struggled for game time of late and will now return for a second spell in the Currie Cup.

The 24-year-old with 25 caps for USA will be heading back to Bloemfontein, and his speed and strong kicking game will be of huge value for the South African side.

“Ruben is a very popular member of the squad and we are sad to see him departing at the end of the season. We wish him all the best for his return to South Africa,” said Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall.

De Haas added: “I’m grateful for the wonderful memories I have made on and off the pitch at Saracens over the past two years, I’ll definitely miss the lads and all the staff at Saracens.

“Hopefully we can end the season on a high note. I will forever be grateful for my time at Saracens.”

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