Ireland and Leinster star Tadhg Furlong has been cited after he allegedly grabbed the testicles of Munster’s Gavin Coombes during Saturday’s clash between the Irish giants.
The number eight was heard complaining to referee Andrew Brace just before the break, accusing an opposition player of grabbing him in the groin area.
It has now been revealed that the accused player is tighthead Furlong, who will now go before an independent disciplinary committee where his fate will be decided.
URC statement
“Leinster Rugby’s Tadhg Furlong has been cited for an incident that occurred in the 37th minute of the United Rugby Championship Round 4 fixture at the Aviva Stadium against Munster Rugby on Saturday, October 24,” a United Rugby Championship statement read.
“The Citing Commissioner in charge has made a complaint about an act of foul play by the Player (Tadhg Furlong No 3) against opponent Gavin Coombes (No 8).
“The Player has been cited under Law 9.27 – 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.
“Arrangements for the disciplinary process are currently in progress and will be announced in due course.”
Brace and the TMO reviewed the action following Coombes’ complaint but they could not find any clips which proved any wrongdoing at the time.
However, it was reported that Munster had “clear footage” of the incident which was available to the citing commissioner.
The province’s head coach also backed his number eight in the post-match press conference.
“It’s one of those things that we leave in the hands of the powers that be,” Clayton McMillan told reporters. “All I know is that I back our players 100 per cent that if they make an allegation like that.
“They wouldn’t do it lightly, and that’s not the sort of person Gavin is, so we’ll see where that goes.”
Views of the respective head coaches
McMillan’s opposition boss, Leo Cullen, played it down, however, suggesting that Coombes had “changed his mind” over the incident.
“I can’t see anything there, from what I can see. Obviously, if that is the accusation… but I’m not seeing anything on first view,” the Leinster head coach said.
“So I don’t know. It looked like he [Coombes] had changed his mind halfway through that accusation as well. So I don’t know.”
Asked to clarify what he meant by that, Cullen responded: “Well, that’s the way it sounded, once the scrum was packing down.
“But I don’t know. Obviously, once that accusation is made, it becomes a serious matter for the citing commissioner. So my comment is not going to help in any way here.
“But from what I’ve seen, I can’t see anything.”
Should Furlong be found guilty, the Ireland prop’s Nations Championship participation would be in serious doubt.