Disciplinary: Michael Cheika (Leicester Tigers)

Leicester Tigers head coach Michael Cheika appeared before the independent disciplinary panel yesterday evening (Tuesday 1 October) for an alleged breach of RFU Rule 5.12 - conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game and/or Union - in circumstances where he is alleged to have disrespected the Independent Match Day Doctor following the Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers match on Saturday 21 September 2024. 

The panel, chaired by Richard Whittam KC sitting with panel members Dr Julian Morris and Oliver Clarke, found Cheika had disrespected the Independent Match Day Doctor and he was given a two week suspension, with one week suspended until the end of the 2024/25 season.

Richard Whittam KC, independent disciplinary panel chair said: "Then panel found that Michael Cheika disrespected the Independent Match Day Doctor in challenging the decision he had made that a player was subject to an IPR (Immediate Permanent Removal).
 
"Although it was an unusual case because there was a lack of clarity about the decisions made about the head injuries, the decisions of the Independent Match Day Doctor must be respected. In this particular case, the appropriate sanction was one of two weeks. The panel mitigated this by suspending one week until the end of the season."

The full judgement will be made available in due course.


ENDS

All RFU disciplinary hearings are run in accordance with RFU Regulation 19 and are obliged to follow the World Rugby approved Sanction Table.