Leicester Rugby Club has voiced their criticism towards the Rugby Football Union (RFU) after their head coach, Michael Cheika, faced a ban for what was deemed as ‘disrespectful’ behaviour towards an independent match-day doctor.
The Tigers have expressed their dissatisfaction with the findings of an independent disciplinary panel that led to Cheika’s two-week suspension. They have stated their intentions to seek clarification from the RFU on various aspects related to the matter.
Cheika, who hails from Australia and previously coached teams like Australia and Argentina, received the ban, with one week suspended, which will impact the upcoming Gallagher Premiership match against Newcastle.
The incident in question occurred following Leicester’s victory over Exeter on September 21, Cheika’s first competitive game in charge of the club. The 57-year-old coach was charged with showing disrespect towards the match-day doctor.
In response to the panel’s decision, Leicester’s executive chairman, Peter Tom, welcomed the aspect of the ruling that Cheika was not intimidating or abusive towards the doctor. However, the club expressed disappointment at the disrespectful finding, especially considering multiple witnesses supported Cheika’s account of the events.
Leicester Tigers also highlighted their concern over the premature announcement of the decision by the RFU before providing the club with the written judgment. They emphasised their commitment to player safety and wellbeing, pledging to seek further clarification and reserve the right to appeal the decision within the designated timeframe.
The panel, chaired by Richard Whittam KC, upheld the breach of the RFU’s rule regarding conduct prejudicial to the game’s interests. The panel found Cheika to have disrespected the match-day doctor’s decision, stressing the importance of upholding such decisions, especially concerning player welfare.
The full judgment against Cheika is expected to be released in due course. In a related incident, Leicester centre Solomone Kata received a four-match suspension for a dangerous tackle, with revelations emerging that the match-day doctor had missed signs of concussion before the player’s removal from the field.
Leicester’s stance on the matter reflects their commitment to upholding the integrity of the game and safeguarding the welfare of their players, as they navigate the implications of the recent events involving their head coach and players.
As the rugby community awaits further developments, the spotlight remains on the responsibilities of all stakeholders towards ensuring a safe and respectful environment within the sport.