Umaga in the dock
8 Apr 2008
Toulon coach Tana Umaga will face a disciplinary committee on Friday for a red card he received in an ill-tempered match a fortnight ago.
The incident occurred on 29 March in their 24-23 defeat to Pau. Reports suggest a mass brawl broke out between the sides and lasted for around five minutes. After the fight ended, Umaga, under the guise of water boy, stepped onto the field for what appeared to be a tactical discussion with his forwards.
The referee told Umaga to leave the field but the coach ignored his instructions, forcing the official to issue a red card. Prop Saimone Taumoepeau was also red-carded for allegedly kicking a Pau player, while former Wallaby captain and Toulon scrumhalf George Gregan received a yellow card.
Millionaire club president Mourad Boujellal defended Umaga, and has called for an investigation into the standard of refereeing in the Pro Division 2.
“The referees are below par. They are not competent to referee a Toulon match,” Boudjellal said.
“They’re amateurs. Their level of refereeing is catastrophic. I demand that we be refereed by professionals that have already officiated in the Top 14. What happened is disgraceful.
“He [the referee] gave a red card to Tana Umaga and a yellow to George Gregan. That’s great for his collection. If rugby wants to be professional, it needs to think seriously about the refereeing. It’s a real problem.”
Toulon were involved in a similar incident in March against Tarbes, and were subsequently fined 10 000 Euros (about R120 000).
Despite having lost four of their last seven matches, Toulon are currently top of the French Pro Division 2, seven points clear of the second placed Stade Montois and Racing Metro with eight matches remaining.
19 Comments
8 Apr 2008, 14:28 pm
lol, its the crazy french, anything goes.
8 Apr 2008, 14:37 pm
Ryan
Who promotes is top 2 or play-offs? Please educate me!
Boudjellal – has a point the club has invested plenty money with the aim of promoting, but in saying that the team he has assembled should be destroying the opposition!?
8 Apr 2008, 14:57 pm
Bloody cheating Kiwi’s.
8 Apr 2008, 15:11 pm
PB – automatic qualification for league winners – play-off between 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place for remaining spot.
Cheers
8 Apr 2008, 15:20 pm
# 4 – Thnks Ryan
8 Apr 2008, 15:25 pm
Umaga in die kuk
8 Apr 2008, 19:09 pm
French rugby:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhCeONxRzu8
8 Apr 2008, 19:10 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhCeONxRzu8
8 Apr 2008, 19:23 pm
My word, that is quite a punch up.
9 Apr 2008, 01:01 am
# 3 You would know, biltong bitting *******, dont judge others as yourself, tosser
9 Apr 2008, 01:06 am
#3
Stupid arrogant South African poster
9 Apr 2008, 04:05 am
Seems to me that the ref should have appreciated Umaga coming on & rounding up /backing off /calming his team down !
Wet Girls Blouse
9 Apr 2008, 06:56 am
i like the arrogance of the owner of toulon saying the refs are not fir to officiate over his club. ha ha brilliant. but it is the one thing in sprt which never changes – issues with the referee’s.
seriously only american football appears to have this right – except there is a stupid amount of stoppages in a match.
9 Apr 2008, 07:06 am
Did you see that the Frogs let the “Olympic Flame” go out
9 Apr 2008, 08:24 am
quite a fight – reminds me of the old Argentina tours (the Wednesday games)
9 Apr 2008, 08:37 am
Umaga is a loser, if he’s gonna coach he should start acting like one.
9 Apr 2008, 09:29 am
Tana was telling the ref they’re not playing tiddlywinks in Toulon. Maybe it’s a big insult in the French language?
Le tiddlywinks! Alors! Mon dieu!
9 Apr 2008, 09:51 am
#10 & 11
I think Loosehead was just taking the piss out of you and waiting for reaction
10 Apr 2008, 00:29 am
Big Hit
At least Tana didnt lose to Scotland,Big Hit you have over 15 big loses in your squad
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.