Twickenham has launched an investigation into allegations that the Leicester head coach, Matt O'Connor, directed foul and abusive language at the referee Romain Poite during yesterday's Premiership defeat against Saracens at Vicarage Road so vocally that a local radio station, broadcasting the match live, had to issue an on-air apology to listeners.
Leicester were angry at the way Poite, France's leading referee, handled the match and their director of rugby, Richard Cockerill, pondered the wisdom of an exchange official for a top English match. "There were some head-scratching decisions at times," he said.
The Rugby Football Union's chief disciplinary officer, Jeff Blackett, has initiated an inquiry into whether O'Connor, who was sitting in a stand that is not used by spectators, should face disciplinary action. "We have not received a complaint, but I have been made aware of details in the report of the match in Monday's Guardian," said Blackett. "We are seeing whether there is anything that should be taken further and that means talking to officials who were at the game."
Cockerill defended O'Connor, who allegedly called Poite a cheat. "I was watching the game so I don't know what Matt said. But we're passionate people involved in top-class sport and I don't remember reading anywhere that you're not allowed to shout your opinions."
After the last regular season league meeting between the sides, at Welford Road last May, the Saracens' director of rugby, Brendan Venter, was banned from the Premiership final between Saracens and Leicester after being found guilty of antagonising home supporters in his vicinity, while Cockerill was warned about his future conduct after the RFU received complaints about his behaviour during the play-off victory over Bath a week later.
"Rugby is a game of passion and emotion and all participants are entitled to express those emotions provided they are not abusive to others or bring the game into disrepute," said Blackett at the time. "However, as the game increases in profile and popularity the conduct of those in the public eye comes under ever closer scrutiny and it is important those role models set an example for the younger generation to follow."
