'I didn't think it was fair': Cheika has his say on ban

REACTION: Leicester Tigers head coach Michael Cheika said he felt unwanted in the Premiership after he received a two-match ban for disrespecting a matchday doctor.

Cheika missed the Tigers’ 42-10 win over Newcastle with the second match of the ban suspended until the end of the 2024/2025 season.

But Cheika has been left bruised by the process that was triggered by a disagreement with the independent matchday doctor over the decision to permanently remove Ollie Chessum during Leicester’s victory over Exeter on September 21.

“Initially I didn’t want to participate at all in the judicial process, I didn’t think it was fair,” the 57-year-old told BBC Radio Leicester.

“After speaking to the [Tigers] CEO and based on my respect for her and the club, I decided to participate, but by doing so you have to adhere to what happens.

“I didn’t want to participate because I didn’t want to hear the outcome – I knew what the outcome was going to be.

“It hurts my reputation. I was really disappointed and I almost felt like – I’m not spitting the dummy here – do they really want me to be in the league?”

Leicester attack coach Peter Hewat took charge of the team for that victory over Newcastle.

“It’s hurt me but I’m happy it didn’t hurt the team,” he said.

“I didn’t like watching it remotely. I wanted to be there but at the end of the day, you can have a few involvements, a few changes, a few little re-directs.

“Pete is a really experienced head coach and I spoke to the players beforehand and they were good, they knew the plan.

“We had a few obstacles in the lead-up to the game, players coming in and out with illness, all different types of things, so I thought they handled the day really well.”

Sources: PA & BBC