Munster's Coombes backed after making groin grab allegation

Published9 hours ago

Munster head coach Clayton McMillan has backed Gavin Coombes after the number eight alleged he had been grabbed in the groin during Saturday's 24-18 defeat by Leinster.

Coombes alleged the incident happened with an unnamed Leinster player at a ruck towards the end of the first half of the United Rugby Championship derby at the Aviva Stadium.

Coombes raised the allegation with match referee Andrew Brace, but the television match official (TMO), Colin Stanley, could not find any video evidence of the incident.

Speaking after the game, McMillan backed Coombes and, referencing the citing commissioner who can punish retrospective incidents after a review, said it was something that had to be left "for the powers that be".

"All I know is that I back our players 100% that if they make an allegation like that, they wouldn't do it lightly," McMillan said.

"He's not that sort of person, Gavin, so we'll see where that goes."

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said he did not see the incident but said it was a "serious matter" for the citing commissioner.

Cullen also said it "looked like he [Coombes] changed his mind halfway through the accusation".

"That's the way it sounded, once the scrum was packing down," said Cullen.

"But I don't know. Obviously, once that accusation is made, it becomes a serious matter for the citing commissioner.

"My comment is not going to help in any way here, but from what I've seen, I can't see anything."

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Rugby Union

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Munster

Leinster