Matthieu Ugalde Enters Rugby's Eye Gouging Punishment Lottery
Brive’s Matthieu Ugalde is likely to be in a spot of bother for ‘making contact with the eyes or the eye area of an opponent’ last weekend, but the length of his ban – if he is banned at all – is anyone’s guess. James Harrington asks why such incidents are punished so inconsistently.
You probably remember Owen Franks’ alleged eye gouge on Kane Douglas in the Bledisloe Cup match in Wellington earlier this year.
It caused a furore at the time, especially when SANZAAR failed to cite Franks for the incident and World Rugby said it could do nothing about decision.
It’s true. They can’t. Disciplinary matters are the responsibility of tournament organisers.
Even the support of the alleged gougee, who generously said that he didn’t think the incident was worthy of the attention it received, did little to dampen the anger of the social media rugby collective.
Now, there’s this, from Saturday’s pitch battle between Grenoble and Brive in France’s Top 14.
Watch: Grenoble vs Brive Full Game | Condensed
It’s fair to say Brive’s Matthieu Ugalde is likely to be in a spot of bother. The video evidence appears damning, and Grenoble players clearly noticed it at the time, even if referee Sebastien Minery did not. No cards were flourished for this particular incident in a match which saw three reds and three yellows drawn from Minery’s pocket.
By the time of the alleged gouging, the game had already boiled over. At the end of the first half, Grenoble’s Sona Taumalolo and Nigel Hunt, and the visitors’ Damien Jourdain, were sent off for their part in a violent brawl.
And two of the three yellows were brandished in a penalty heavy final 10 minutes.
The good news, at least, is try-scorer Armand Batlle was able to continue. But that’s beside the point. The fact is rugby authorities have an eye-gouging problem that they have been unable to deal with for decades.
The maximum ban for ‘making contact with the eyes or the eye area of an opponent’, as the laws of the game rather tamely describe it, is three years.
The minimum is 12 weeks.
To date, only Colomiers’ Richard Nones has been handed anything close to a maximum sanction. He was banned for 104 weeks, or two years, for gouging Pontypridd’s Sven Cronk during a European Cup match in 1999.
The problem is that there is little consistency across the game. Individual cases are the purview of tournament organisers. SANZAAR decided not to cite Owen Franks.
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Most bans are at the lower end of the scale. World Rugby itself banned Argentina lock Mariano Galarza for gouging Brodie Retallick during last year’s World Cup – a tournament it organises – for 13 weeks, with a four-week reduction for previous good behaviour.
Nones was banned by authorities responsible for the former Heineken Cup. In fact, the old European competition has a history of tough sanctions. Stade Francais’ prop David Attoub was slapped with a 70-week ban for gouging Ulster’s Stephen Ferris during a stormy Heineken Cup game in December 2009.
It was, presiding officer Jeff Blackett said at the time, “the worst act of contact with the eyes that I have had to deal with.”
The Paris side’s scrum-half Julien Dupuy also copped a 24-week ban, reduced to 23 on appeal, for gouging Ferris moments earlier.
But it’s not up to European authorities to rule on the incident during the Grenoble vs Brive game. It’s up to France’s Ligue National de Rugby, who run the Top 14. Whatever they decide, World Rugby’s hands are tied.
Fortunately, World Rugby’s charismatic vice-chairman Agustin Pichot has at least recognised that there is a problem. All he has to do is work out a way to do something about it. Maybe taking a leaf from the former European competition is the first step.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments