Leinster's Tadhg Furlong has groin grab charge 'dismissed'

Ireland and Leinster tighthead Tadhg Furlong has seen a charge of foul play arising from an incident involving Munster No.8 Gavin Coombes unanimously dismissed.

The ruling comes after a mammoth disciplinary session that effectively took up the guts of Thursday, having originally been scheduled to begin this morning.

The 33-year-old was cited following Leinster’s URC meeting with Munster on October 24 and subsequently appeared before an independent disciplinary committee via video conference.

Furlong had been charged under Law 9.27, which states that “a player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship including but not limited to grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals.”

The disciplinary panel, comprising chair Simon Thomas (Wales), Attie Heyns (South Africa) and Pamela Woodman (Scotland), considered the available evidence before unanimously determining that the charge was not proven.

United Rugby Championship

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Edinburgh

4

4

0

0

19

2

Glasgow

4

3

0

1

18

3

Bulls

4

3

1

0

16

4

Stormers

4

3

1

0

16

5

Sharks

4

3

1

0

15

6

Leinster

4

2

2

0

13

7

Ospreys

4

2

2

0

11

8

Connacht

4

2

2

0

10

9

Munster

4

1

2

1

10

10

Cardiff Rugby

4

2

2

0

9

11

Lions

4

2

2

0

9

12

Dragons RFC

4

1

2

1

9

13

Ulster

4

0

2

2

9

14

Scarlets

4

1

3

0

8

15

Benetton

4

0

3

1

6

16

Zebre

4

0

4

0

2

A statement reads: “Having reviewed all of the evidence and considered the submissions in this case, the Independent Disciplinary Committee unanimously concluded that the citing complaint against the Player should be dismissed, on the basis that he did not commit an act of foul play contrary to Law 9.27.”

“Notwithstanding the dismissal of the complaint, the Independent Disciplinary Committee found that Munster No.8, Mr Gavin Coombes, had given an honest account of his recollection of events surrounding the incident, and that the Citing Complaint was properly brought before the Independent Disciplinary Committee for determination.”

As a result, the complaint against Furlong was dismissed and no sanction was imposed.

The experienced front-rower is therefore free to continue playing for both Leinster and Ireland, with no disruption to his availability for upcoming fixtures.

Furlong started Leinster’s victory over Munster and remains a key figure for club and country and no doubt Andy Farrell and his Ireland coaching ticket will be breathing a sigh of relief at the ruling.

The dismissal means Leinster avoid losing the 119kg Wexford native during a busy run of domestic and European fixtures, while Ireland’s coaching staff can continue planning with Furlong available for the forthcoming Nations Championship campaign.

The URC has said that a “full written summary explaining the Independent Disciplinary Committee’s decision will follow as soon as reasonably practicable.”