Venter hit with misconduct charge

Rugby:Saracens rugby director Brendan Venter has been hit with a misconduct charge following comments he made after his team's Heineken Cup defeat against Leinster at Wembley earlier this month.

European Rugby Cup (ERC) disciplinary officer Roger O’Connor has lodged the misconduct complaint following an investigation.

Further misconduct charges were made against Bayonne director of rugby Christian Gajan, while Montpellier have been investigated for squad registration complaints against the club.

“The misconduct complaint is that the Saracens director of rugby made a number of comments in which he brought into disrepute ERC, the tournament, the match officials and/or the sport of rugby union,” said ERC in a statement with regards Venter’s case.

The complaint will be heard by a three-man independent disciplinary committee chaired by Frenchman Jean-Noel Couraud, Antony Davies (England) and Pat Barriscale (Ireland) at the ERC offices in Dublin next Thursday (November 4th).

After the pool game, which Saracens lost 25-23, Venter warned the International Rugby Board (IRB) that the game will be harmed if they do not address current problems at the breakdown.

Venter was furious that French referee Christophe Berdos failed to sin-bin three Leinster players during the second-half when a rash of penalties prevented his team gaining momentum.

“Before the Heineken Cup began, I asked if we would have a conference so all the officials from abroad were in tune as to the new interpretations of the laws,” said Venter.

“Instead, we got some European referees in the Premiership, but there is a real danger that if we don’t take action going into a World Cup year, the game of rugby is going to die, be killed stone dead because the public won’t come to watch.

“We will end up playing one type of rugby in the league, another in Europe and when you get to the World Cup, wait and see which referee you get.

“Last season we won 10 games in a row playing a kicking game, a horrible game to watch, but necessary because the breakdown regulations favoured defending teams.

“I may consider returning to that in Europe because there is no system in place to complain about these problems, and that makes it a flawed competition.”

Venter found himself in hot water with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) last season.

He initially received a 14-week match-day coaching ban, reduced to 10 on appeal, after being charged with conduct prejudicial to the game, namely making provocative and inappropriate gestures and comments towards Leicester supporters during a Premiership game against Saracens at Welford Road.

It meant Venter was banned from Twickenham when Saracens contested their first Premiership final - against Leicester - in May.

O’Connor lodged a complaint against Bayonne coach Gajan for comments made after the Amlin Challenge Cup Pool 1 match against Connacht at The Sportsground.

The misconduct complaint is based on comments made by the coach to media representatives in which he brought into disrepute ERC, the tournament, the match officials and/or the sport of rugby union.

Gajan’s case will be heard by Davis (chairman), Couraud and Barriscale in Dublin next Thursday.

Montpellier are being investigated after omitting a number of its international and other players from its Amlin Challenge Cup squad and failed to nominate its strongest possible squad as required by the tournament rules.

Their case will be chaired by Barriscale alongside Couraud and Davis, also in Dublin next Thursday.