Latest news with #RichardAgar
The Guardian
27-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
‘Not acceptable': Warriors coach Richard Agar regrets alleged press box altercation
The New Zealand Warriors' assistant coach Richard Agar has accepted a fine and suspension handed down by the NRL for an alleged altercation with a Guardian journalist during the side's season opener against Canberra in Las Vegas. Agar agreed to the $5,000 fine as well as a three-match suspension proposed by the NRL, though a club statement on Wednesday said the coach had a 'different view' to the contents of the breach notice he was handed for bringing the game into dispute. 'I regret what happened and I know it's not acceptable,' Agar said in a club statement. 'I accept the penalty and now want to move forward and learn from this.' It is alleged that Agar verbally abused the rugby league reporter John Davidson and pushed him in the throat during an altercation in the press box at half-time of the NRL match at Allegiant Stadium. Davidson, an Australian based in the UK who was in the US to cover the match as a freelancer, complained to the NRL integrity unit, which investigated the allegation. According to New Zealand media reports after the Warriors returned from the US, Agar said: 'There's two sides to every story.' The English coach has worked with the Warriors since 2023 after four years leading the Super League club Leeds Rhinos. 'It's in the best interests of the club, the players and the game to accept the penalty and move on,' said Cameron George, the Warriors chief executive. 'We don't condone Richard's actions. While he has a different view on some elements of the breach notice he wants to put the club first and accept the decision.' Agar must also undertake education and training programs and will be fined an additional $5,000 if he reoffends. The 53-year-old is barred from performing any match-day duties and from travelling to Warriors away matches during the suspension, which will include clashes with Wests Tigers and Melbourne Storm in Australia. Agar will still be able to coach the team during the week. The Warriors have won their past two games since their 30-8 defeat to the Raiders in Las Vegas and sit seventh on the ladder heading into round four.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Not acceptable': Warriors coach regrets journo clash
The Warriors assistant coach who grabbed a journalist by the throat says he regrets his outburst in Las Vegas and wants to move on from the saga. A club statement on Wednesday said Richard Agar had a "different view" on the contents of the breach notice handed down after the incident, which occurred on game day during the NRL's second annual trip to the US earlier this month. But Agar has nevertheless accepted the punishment offered by the NRL last week, meaning he will miss three matches and pay $5000 in fines. "I regret what happened and I know it's not acceptable," Agar said in a club statement. "I accept the penalty and now want to move forward and learn from this." Agar will also undergo education and training programs and pay an additional $5000 in fines if he reoffends. The Warriors distanced themselves from Agar's backstage outburst at Allegiant Stadium, where the club faced Canberra in the first match of the NRL season. Agar is thought to have known the English-based journalist he physically confronted, having previously coached in the European Super League competition. "It's in the best interests of the club, the players and the game to accept the penalty and move on," said Warriors chief executive Cameron George. "We don't condone Richard's actions. While he has a different view on some elements of the breach notice he wants to put the club first and accept the decision." As part of his punishment, Agar cannot travel with the Warriors to Australia for the round-four and round-five clashes against Wests Tigers and Melbourne. The Warriors have won their past two games since a hefty defeat to the Raiders in Las Vegas and face the Tigers at Campbelltown this Sunday. The Auckland side will be without Roger Tuivasa-Sheck after the veteran suffered a hamstring injury in last week's tight win over the Sydney Roosters. The former Dally M Medallist is expected back in round 11, with Adam Pompey shifting to the wing in his absence.
The Guardian
17-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Warriors coach Richard Agar given NRL breach notice after alleged press box incident
The NRL has given New Zealand Warriors' assistant coach Richard Agar five days to respond before it fines and suspends him for an alleged altercation with a Guardian journalist during the side's season-opening defeat against Canberra in Las Vegas. League officials issued a breach notice to Agar on Monday after an investigation into the alleged incident, which proposes a $10,000 fine – half of which is suspended – as well as a three-match suspension and a requirement for Agar to undertake appropriate education and training. The English coach, who has worked with the Warriors since 2023, has until the weekend to respond. The proposed sanctions follow an alleged incident at half-time at Allegiant Stadium when Canberra led the Warriors 16-4. It is alleged that Agar verbally abused rugby league reporter John Davidson, an Australian based in the UK who was in the US to cover the match as a freelancer, and pushed him in the throat. Davidson complained to the NRL integrity unit, which investigated the allegation. The Raiders ran out 30-8 winners in a difficult start to the Warriors' season. The Warriors said on Monday neither the club nor Agar had any comment to make on the breach notice. According to New Zealand media reports, Agar said when the team returned from the US that he would talk when he was able and 'there's two sides to every story'. The Warriors overcame the disappointment of the result in Las Vegas to produce a dominant 36-16 victory over Manly on Friday. If NRL's proposed sanctions are imposed, Agar would be prohibited from performing any duties as assistant coach on the days the matches are scheduled, and would be barred from travelling to any away match during the suspension. The Warriors host the Roosters on Friday, then travel to Australia for games against Wests and Melbourne in their two subsequent fixtures.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Warriors assistant banned, fined for Vegas journo clash
Warriors assistant coach Richard Agar has received a three-match ban and $10,000 fine for allegedly choking a journalist at the NRL's showpiece event in Las Vegas. The NRL issued Agar with a breach notice on Monday following the incident that is alleged to have happened on game day at Allegiant Stadium on March 2. Half of his fine will be suspended pending any further offences, with Agar unavailable to serve on Andrew Webster's coaching staff for upcoming clashes against the Sydney Roosters, Wests Tigers and Melbourne. He has been barred from travelling with the Warriors to the second of those two matches in Australia. Agar, who previously coached Super League sides Hull FC, Wakefield Trinity and Leeds Rhinos, will also be required to undertake "appropriate education and training". The Englishman has five business days to respond to the breach notice According to the reporter in question, Agar confronted him backstage at Allegiant Stadium, where the Warriors lost 30-8 to Canberra in the first game of the season. Agar and the reporter are believed to have known each other from the coach's time working in England. The English-based journalist had been on site to cover matches between Super League sides Wigan and Warrington, and the England women's team and Australia. Agar previously worked with Webster on Samoa's coaching staff, and joined the NRL club for the Warriors head coach's first season at the helm in 2023.
The Guardian
03-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
NRL integrity unit investigates alleged press box incident between Warriors assistant coach and journalist
The NRL Integrity Unit is investigating an alleged incident in the press box between a journalist for Guardian Australia and New Zealand Warriors assistant coach Richard Agar during the season opener against Canberra in Las Vegas. Rugby league reporter John Davidson, an Australian based in the UK who was in the US to cover the match as a freelancer, was allegedly pushed in the throat by Agar and verbally abused. The incident was alleged to have occurred during half-time at Allegiant Stadium when Canberra led the Warriors 16-4. The Raiders ran out 30-8 winners over the Kiwi club. New Zealand Warriors chief executive Cameron George said on Monday morning he was made aware 'an alleged incident at half-time involving assistant coach Richard Agar and an English journalist John Davidson from the Guardian' after the match. 'This morning I had the opportunity to speak with the NRL integrity unit. They are working through their process which will include us,' George said. 'I hope their process will be efficient and prompt so we can provide clarity on the matter.' Agar was contacted through the Warriors but the club said there 'won't be any further comment at this stage'. Agar is an English coach and former player who last held a head coaching role at Leeds Rhinos until he stepped down in 2022. He joined the Warriors the following year. Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion Davidson is a sports journalist who has covered multiple football codes and has written for a range of rugby league titles as well as the Guardian, the i Paper and SBS.
