Wed 3 Oct 2012 | 01:57
Four players sent from the field in Agen vs Bordeaux mass brawl

8
Comments

We've seen a few dust-ups of late, with two Western Province players shown straight red cards, while Luke Charteris and Pascal Pape were given yellows in the Top 14. This past weekend Agen and Bordeaux-Bengles were involved in a messy scrap too.

Philippe Sella's Agen won their third consecutive match as they beat Bordeaux 19-15, with the only try of the game scored by Welshman Jamie Robinson. The visitors picked up a losing bonus point, but discipline was an issue and with a few minutes left the tight nature of the contest led to tempers fraying, and punches being thrown.

It didn't stop there as the scuffle broke off into three seperate fights and with the maroon colour of the Bordeaux kit, it looked a bit like an old school State of Origin battle at times.

The chaos started in the front row but soon locks Esteban Lozada and Cameron Treloar paired off for their own one-on-one. Fatigue - rather than the referee's whistle - eventually put an end to it as both players appeared be to spent, particularly Lozada after having thrown more than a fair share.

When order was restored, the referee chose to send four players from the field, with yellow cards for Hikairo Forbes and Jalil Narjissi as they were in the middle of the inital melee, and red cards for Lozada and Treloar, for continuing to throw punches.

Both red carded players have been summoned to a disciplinary hearing with the Ligue Nationale de Rugby. They are suspended until that takes place on 17 October.

8 Comments

  • kadova
    8:45 PM 07/10/2012

    lol, he would not say that. Saw him (the real Florian) being quieter on the pitch.

  • erik
    1:43 PM 04/10/2012

    I didn't know rugby was about competing to be the biggest asshole. French rugby must be different than Union or League. Maybe rename it to Rugby Barrage?

  • cheyanqui
    8:59 PM 03/10/2012

    If the referees told everyone to stop and both 4s kept going, he probably gave reds on that basis alone.

    However, White 4 was throwing a few dog hits in the beginning, so one would expect / hope the judiciary to deal with him a bit worse.

    If he was already going off for the continued fighting, no Touch Judge referrral for the dog hits would change the red on the field.

  • pretzel
    8:16 PM 03/10/2012

    I get that however the purple 4 was actually trying to break up the whole incident, then whilst him AND the blue 4 did have a quick couple swings at each other, THEY themselves broke up their own fight. No one pulled them away. It seemed like one of those situations I recall as a kid and there was a bully, I managed to get him in an arm lock one day, where his arm is out straight and you push down on his shoulder, you know? I had no interest in actually fighting the guy hence why I went for the arm lock... However he was REAL mad at this so I had to keep applying pressure to his shoulder every now and again to make sure I he'd stop... when I told him to give up he refused... So I was then over a barrel, what do I do? Let the guy go and then actually have to fight him? Or keep him pinned like that? and for how long?

    A teacher actually separated us. But had they not what would I have done? Sat there all day with him pinned? That is sort of the impression I get with these 2 locks... they didn't really look like they wanted to fight, but neither wanted to let go just in case the other one DID want to fight... so they sort of walked around for a while... then after they threw a couple swings and went their separate ways they got carded for it.

    I only think for their situation the red was harsh, however I agree that it will be interesting to see how the Hearing panel will deal with it...I actually predict no further action other than the 2 week suspension they already have... but we shall see...

  • guy
    7:18 PM 03/10/2012

    I have not seen any more than you have but as I understand from the RD intro the yellows were for starting it and the reds for continuing it.

    I am not entirely sure if I find the difference in punishment utter nonsense or not. My first feeling is that the instigators should be punished the hardest. On the other hand you should stop as soon as the ref tells you to...

    Let's see what the citing commission has to say about this. The hearing is 17th of October so they allready have a suspension of 2 weeks under their belt. I'll bet they will get two weeks at the hearing, no more, no less.

  • pretzel
    6:46 PM 03/10/2012

    4 Minutes left in the game, don't really have an issue with the card colours so much, not sure if I'd have given the locks a red though...personally...

    Actually looking again I seriously don't think the purple 4 should have been shown any card. Watch him in the fracas, he only notices it happening at 0:14 seconds, an even from there he doesn't blindly charge in, he walks and then jogs to the brawl and then straight away he actually gets in between two pale blue newcomers to the fight to try and stop them from getting involved. Lose site of him at around 0:23, then see him again at about 0:25 and once again he does not appear to be throwing punches... at 0:26 he engages with the opposition 4 who throws a punch at his chest, but still does not appear to be throwing punches and from there up until 0:36 it is a case of a bit of words and straight arm pushing....

    Then switch to 1:38 and they are both in the bottom right of the screen.. looks like the 4 purple is trying to get away from the 4 blue. 4 blue throws a punch, 4 purple returns, 4 blue looks stunned, the 4 purple reloads and then leaves his arm cocked and doesn't unload on the guy, and actually pushes away and break free...

    I think that man alone has been dealt a very harsh red...

  • pretzel
    6:38 PM 03/10/2012

    YES! French rugby is back on form!

  • irishref
    5:48 PM 03/10/2012

    madness. This is happening every week in the Top 14

    even non-french players new to the game there are turning into Raging Bull mk III

    I blame the evian water