Olivier Azam banned for three months
Gloucester Rugby hooker Olivier Azam will not play again until next year after he was banned for 12 weeks for his kick on Saracens’ Steve Borthwick.
The ban is the maximum a player can receive for use of the boot, with Azam’s previous poor record, including bans for spitting and eye gouging, counting against him.
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Olivier Azam
He was caught on camera appearing to lash out at Borthwick, who had grabbed the Frenchman’s left ankle at the bottom of a ruck in the 11th minute of the game on September 27 at Vicarage Road.
The England captain needed a trip to an eye hospital as a result of the incident, after which Azam denied making any intentional contact.
But the RFU Disciplinary Panel saw it differently at a Bristol Filton Holiday Inn hearing which lasted more than four hours last night.
Azam, who admitted the offence, will next be available for selection for the game against Worcester on January 2, unless there is a successful appeal against the length.
The Saracens game was only Azam’s second since returning from a nine-week ban for ‘making contact with the eye or eye area’ of Cardiff Blues centre Jamie Roberts.
That saw him miss all four of Gloucester’s pre-season games and the first two Guinness Premiership fixtures.
Azam also denied any wrongdoing in that incident, suggesting the video evidence was never released because it showed the contact was minor.
The ban for spitting came during the 2001/2002 season, in an incident involving Epi Taione, who was then playing for Newcastle.
Meanwhile, Adam Eustace was also banned for three weeks after admitting stamping on scrum-half Justin Marshall.
Read Azam’s reaction to the suspension in his exclusive column for The Citizen tomorrow.
23 Comments
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by Ninja of love, Newnham-on-Severn
Thursday, October 08 2009, 9:03AM
“Thank you FR”
by FR, Glos
Thursday, October 08 2009, 6:26AM
“Some perspective -
In an effort to bring perspective to media headlines
related to last night's decision by an RFU Panel to ban Olivier Azam for 12
weeks after pleading guilty to kicking an opponent, Gloucester Rugby would like
to highlight the following key findings from the Judgement published
today.
Olivier Azams left foot was being grabbed and twisted by an opponent
Olivier Azam deliberately kicked out in the direction of his left foot in an effort to free himself
Olivier Azam was not aiming for Steve Borthwicks head or face
The contact between Olivier Azams boot and Steve Borthwicks head was acknowledged by the
Chairman of the panel to be accidental
Gloucester Rugby has until 12:00hrs on Friday 9th October to decide whether to exercise its right to appeal
the decision of the Panel and will be making no further comment on the matter.”
by AA, Pitville
Wednesday, October 07 2009, 8:47PM
“Get back under your stone jd; hiding behind a cloak of obscurity tapping your keyboard, you're a limp wristed coward. Borthwick would squash you like like the maggot you clearly are. Do us all a favour and stick your thumb back in your gob until mum wakes you up for school. Night night.”
by Neil, Longlevens
Wednesday, October 07 2009, 6:59PM
“And this is the player that was voted player of the season by supporters. Says it all really...
Those who whinge that Azam is being targetted by referees , should ask themselves why this is so - perhaps previous incidents might be a factor. Gloucester would be better of without Azam and it would also be good to hear the end of the moronic chants that greet his latest indiscretion as he enters or leaves the field. Perhaps I'm supporting the wrong club if supporters genuinely believe this player's behaviour is acceptable. And just for the record, I'm not a "superficial" watcher of the game - I care greatly about Gloucester Rugby Club. Steve Borthwick (quote: "a bath imbecile") has at least made the most of his limited rugby talents in captaining his country. What has Azam actually achieved?”
by D Baldwin, Podsmead
Wednesday, October 07 2009, 6:22PM
“It does look as though, sadly, Azam¿s better days are behind him. He is often seen squaring-up to the opposition so his ability to cause trouble seems to outweigh his playing talents, certainly at some line-outs.
But having just read the comment on Gloucester rugby¿s website, it would appear as though the ban is extremely harsh. Apparently it was accepted by the disciplinary panel chairman that contact with Borthwick¿s head was ¿accidental¿ and that Azam¿s foot was being ¿twisted¿. I¿m not condoning Azam¿s actions, but if accepted as an attempt to "free himself" and not aiming at Borthwick, it implies Olly was just not careful; so why such a long ban, and what about some disciplinary being taken against Steve Borthwick?”