Latest news with #NolannleGarrec
Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
French star Le Garrec apologises for diving incident
-France scrumhalf Nolann le Garrec has apologised after falling dramatically during a Top 14 match, an action widely criticised as simulation. The Racing 92 player dropped to the ground clutching his face after a minor collision with Perpignan prop Bruce Devaux at the weekend, prompting jeers from home fans when replayed on the stadium's screen. Referee Kevin Bralley simply instructed Le Garrec to continue playing. "I received a shoulder to the face and did not know if it was intentional," Le Garrec said in a statement to Midi Olympique. "After reviewing the images, I see this gesture was completely involuntary. I apologise to the match referees. "I did not want to disrespect anyone. It is not how I behave." Former referee Nigel Owens stated he would have shown Le Garrec a straight red card, while critics argued such exaggeration undermines concerns about genuine head injuries. Le Garrec suggested the match context had played a part in his actions. Racing had just seen Fijian wing Vinaya Habosi sent off for head contact, and they were trailing Perpignan by 11 points with 10 minutes to play. The Parisians ultimately went down 28-24 – a result that leaves them just four points above the relegation playoff zone with five rounds remaining. The incident adds to rugby's growing simulation controversies this season, despite laws explicitly prohibiting actions that might deceive officials or contradict "the spirit of good sportsmanship". In March, La Rochelle coach Ronan O'Gara likened Stade Francais flanker Romain Briatte to Brazilian footballer Neymar after Australian lock Will Skelton was sent off for a ruck clear-out. Earlier in the year, Bath and England centre Ollie Lawrence admitted he "probably could have carried on" following a head clash with Northampton's Alex Mitchell — though he denied any attempt to deceive officials. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
23-04-2025
- Sport
- CNA
French star Le Garrec apologises for diving incident
-France scrumhalf Nolann le Garrec has apologised after falling dramatically during a Top 14 match, an action widely criticised as simulation. The Racing 92 player dropped to the ground clutching his face after a minor collision with Perpignan prop Bruce Devaux at the weekend, prompting jeers from home fans when replayed on the stadium's screen. Referee Kevin Bralley simply instructed Le Garrec to continue playing. "I received a shoulder to the face and did not know if it was intentional," Le Garrec said in a statement to Midi Olympique. "After reviewing the images, I see this gesture was completely involuntary. I apologise to the match referees. "I did not want to disrespect anyone. It is not how I behave." Former referee Nigel Owens stated he would have shown Le Garrec a straight red card, while critics argued such exaggeration undermines concerns about genuine head injuries. Le Garrec suggested the match context had played a part in his actions. Racing had just seen Fijian wing Vinaya Habosi sent off for head contact, and they were trailing Perpignan by 11 points with 10 minutes to play. The Parisians ultimately went down 28-24 – a result that leaves them just four points above the relegation playoff zone with five rounds remaining. The incident adds to rugby's growing simulation controversies this season, despite laws explicitly prohibiting actions that might deceive officials or contradict "the spirit of good sportsmanship". In March, La Rochelle coach Ronan O'Gara likened Stade Francais flanker Romain Briatte to Brazilian footballer Neymar after Australian lock Will Skelton was sent off for a ruck clear-out. Earlier in the year, Bath and England centre Ollie Lawrence admitted he "probably could have carried on" following a head clash with Northampton's Alex Mitchell — though he denied any attempt to deceive officials. (Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Reuters
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Le Garrec's faceplant farce sparks fury in French rugby's simulation storm
April 23 - France scrumhalf Nolann le Garrec has apologised after falling dramatically during a Top 14 match, an action widely criticised as simulation. The Racing 92 player dropped to the ground clutching his face after a minor collision with Perpignan prop Bruce Devaux at the weekend, prompting jeers from home fans when replayed on the stadium's screen. Referee Kevin Bralley simply instructed Le Garrec to continue playing. "I received a shoulder to the face and did not know if it was intentional," Le Garrec said in a statement to Midi Olympique, opens new tab. "After reviewing the images, I see this gesture was completely involuntary. I apologise to the match referees. "I did not want to disrespect anyone. It is not how I behave." Former referee Nigel Owens stated he would have shown Le Garrec a straight red card, while critics argued such exaggeration undermines concerns about genuine head injuries. Le Garrec suggested the match context had played a part in his actions. Racing had just seen Fijian wing Vinaya Habosi sent off for head contact, and they were trailing Perpignan by 11 points with 10 minutes to play. The Parisians ultimately went down 28-24 – a result that leaves them just four points above the relegation playoff zone with five rounds remaining. The incident adds to rugby's growing simulation controversies this season, despite laws explicitly prohibiting actions that might deceive officials or contradict "the spirit of good sportsmanship". In March, La Rochelle coach Ronan O'Gara likened Stade Francais flanker Romain Briatte to Brazilian footballer Neymar after Australian lock Will Skelton was sent off for a ruck clear-out. Earlier in the year, Bath and England centre Ollie Lawrence admitted he "probably could have carried on" following a head clash with Northampton's Alex Mitchell — though he denied any attempt to deceive officials.
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'An inadequate reaction' - Le Garrec sorry for 'dive'
France scrum-half Nolann le Garrec has apologised after appearing to dive in a Top 14 92's Le Garrec, who has won 10 caps for his country, dropped to the turf clutching his face after a slight and accidental collision with Perpignan prop Bruce Devaux on incident sparked jeers from the Perpignan fans when replayed on their stadium's big screen and referee Kevin Bralley instructed Le Garrec to play on once he was back on his referee Nigel Owens, commenting on social media,, external said he would have given Le Garrec a straight red card, while other critics said the 22-year-old's exaggeration endangered players who have suffered serious head injuries. "I wanted to come back to the situation of my contact to the head and my inadequate reaction," Le Garrec said in a statement to Midi Olympique on Tuesday., external"At the time, I received a shoulder to the face from the Perpignan prop and I did not know at all if it was intentional or not."I did not know how to react. After reviewing the images, I see that this gesture was completely involuntary on the part of the prop. I apologise to the match referees! I did not want to disrespect anyone. It is not how I behave." Le Garrec also suggested that the situation in the match contributed to his reaction. Racing had just had Fijian wing Vinaya Habosi sent off for making contact with the head of a Perpignan player, and trailed by 11 points with 10 minutes ultimately lost 28-24. The big-spending Parisian side, who sacked former England coach Stuart Lancaster in February, lie only four points above the relegation play-off spot with five rounds remaining of the regular Garrec is not the first player to be accused of play-acting this March, La Rochelle coach Ronan O'Gara compared Stade Francais flanker Romain Briatte to Brazilian footballer Neymar, after Australian second row Will Skelton was sent off after clearing out a Bath centre Ollie Lawrence admitted that he "probably could have carried on" when he hit the turf following a head clash with Northampton's Alex Mitchell in January - however he denied cheating, saying he was entitled to go to laws, external expressly forbid players to "do anything that may lead the match officials to consider that an opponent has committed an infringement" or, more generally, to act contrary to "the spirit of good sportsmanship".
