Munster coach Clayton McMillan offered support to Gavin Coombes after the player alleged he was grabbed by the shorts during Saturday's defeat by Leinster. McMillan stated that his players would not make such allegations lightly.
Coombes said the incident involved an unnamed Leinster player in a ruck towards the end of the first half of the United Rugby Championship match at the Aviva Stadium. The game ended in a 24-18 defeat for Munster. Coombes raised the allegation with match referee Andrew Brace, but television assistant referee Colin Stanley found no video evidence of the incident.
"All I know is that I stand 100 per cent behind my players and that, if they make such an allegation, they would not do so lightly," McMillan said. He added that Coombes is not the type of person to do so and that it will be seen where the case leads. McMillan also emphasised that it is something that should be left to "those who have the power".
Leinster coach Leo Cullen stated that he did not see the incident, but stressed that it is a serious matter for the complaints officer. "Obviously, when such an allegation is made, it becomes a serious matter for the complaints officer," Cullen said. He added that Coombes, as far as he could tell, "changed his mind halfway through the allegation" and that it sounded that way while the scrum was being set.
Cullen concluded that his comment would not help in this case, but that from what he saw, he could see nothing. The case will therefore remain in the hands of the complaints officer, while both clubs have had the opportunity to present their view of the events.
