Cheika to face hearing for Durban rant
Maverick Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has formally been charged by SANZAR over one of several public rants.
SANZAR confirmed on Thursday that Cheika faces a judicial hearing over his sideline confrontation with a television cameraman in Durban, South Africa, a fortnight ago.
Super Rugby's governing body, SANZAR, said in a statement it has completed the investigation into the incident during the Waratahs' clash with the Sharks on March 29 and is sending it to a hearing.
"SANZAR has referred the matter for a hearing in accordance with SANZAR's disciplinary rules," a brief statement said.
"The matter will be heard by SANZAR judicial officer Nigel Hampton, via teleconference, on Wednesday April 16.
"SANZAR will be making no further comment until this process has been completed."
South African pay-TV station SuperSport lodged a complaint about Cheika, after the Waratahs coach had physically threatened a cameraman who was filming him after he left his coaching box.
He was escorted back into the stands by match officials after the confrontation that was broadcast worldwide.
SuperSport confirmed to this website that they had complained about the Waratahs coach's behaviour.
"The coach objected to us filming him and he approached and abused [the cameraman]," SuperSport spokesman Clinton van der Berg said.
"A couple of choice words were used. Where we draw the line is being threatened," he added.
A complaint was lodged with the match commissioner Piet Strydom, who in turn sent it to SANZAR.
Cheika has been involved in a number of unpleasant public outbursts, including shattering a glass door at the Canberra Stadium when the Brumbies beat the Tahs and he again spat the dummy after the Sharks beat his team.
Not only was Cheika involved in an ugly public spat with Sharks Director of Rugby Jake White, but he was also asked to leave the playing area after another of his infamous rants.
The Waratahs were asked to pay the bill to fix a glass door he broke in the coach's box at Canberra Stadium during his outburst last month, but that was not his only other embarrassing rant.
When coach of French side Stade Francais, Cheika drew a hefty fine for abusing match officials during and after the team's loss to Harlequins in the Final of the 2011 European Challenge Cup.
Former Ireland captain Jamie Heaslip, who played under Cheika at Leinster, said the Australian was not the type to keep his emotions bottled up during last year's British and Irish Lions tour Down Under.
"He was a hard nut, some would say a madman at times," Heaslip told the media..
By Jan de Koning
