Touchline ban for La Rochelle boss

NEWS: La Rochelle's director of rugby Ronan O'Gara has been handed a one-week touchline ban for ill-discipline and will be in the stands for this weekend's Champions Cup game with Leinster, Top 14 organisers the French national league (LNR) announced on Wednesday.

Former Ireland flyhalf O'Gara was cited by the LNR for his behaviour during last month's Top 14 defeat by Racing 92.

The 46-year-old will be in the stands for Sunday's Champions Cup final rerun with Irish province Leinster.

It is O'Gara's fifth suspension from the league since he took over as La Rochelle's director of rugby in 2021, amounting to 21 weeks' punishment.

La Rochelle wing Teddy Thomas, however, was handed a five-week ban for a dangerous tackle and will only be free to play again from December 31.