Summoned this Wednesday by the EPCR Disciplinary Commission after a clash with the referee of the match between Pau and the Cheetahs this Saturday as part of the 1st day of the Challenge Cup, Sébastien Piqueronies risks up to 96 weeks of suspension .
Sébastien Piqueronies is in trouble. This Saturday, for its entry into the running in the Challenge Cup, the Paloise Section lost on its lawn at the Stade du Hameau against the South African formation of the Cheetahs. A meeting whose outcome was played late and which generated tension around the field. Incidents which earned the coach of the Béarn club a summons this Wednesday before the Independent Disciplinary Commission convened by the EPCR, formed by the Englishman Jeremy Summers as well as the Irishmen Gordon Black and David Humphreys. A trio who will be responsible for hearing Sébastien Piqueronies due to a clash between the latter and the referee of the meeting Sam Grove-White. Respecting his habit and despite the tension inherent in a decision contested by the Pau bench, the former coach of the France under-20 team approached the game director to shake his hand. . However, at the same time, Sébastien Piqueronies also grabbed the right arm of the game director.
? HISTORY MADE ?@CheetahsRugby gain their first try in #ChallengeCupRugby through Daniel Maartens ?
? @beinsports_FR, @SuperSportTV, @ViaPlaySportsUK and @FloRugby pic.twitter.com/F87Mvscz2J
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) December 10, 2022
Piqueronies will be able to explain
The latter, surprised by this gesture, abruptly put an end to the exchange. An incident that could have ended there but the EPCR will give it a disciplinary turn. Indeed, the organizer of the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup has decided to seize the independent Disciplinary Committee suspecting the coach of the Section Paloise “of having physically attacked the referee” of this meeting, invoking the article 9.28 of the World Rugby regulations, which specifies that a “player must not physically attack match officials”. For this, Sébastien Piqueronies could be heavily sanctioned. If the low degree is retained, the suspension would be 24 weeks against 48 weeks for the average degree and finally 96 weeks for the higher degree. In other words, in the worst case, the Béarn technician could be removed from his bench for almost two years. The latter will however have the opportunity to explain himself this Wednesdaywith the hope of a certain leniency on the part of the three judges in charge of the case.