Ronan O'Gara in furious touchline bust-up with rival coach as tempers boil over in top match

Ronan O’Gara hasn’t always endeared himself to all in Welsh rugby, what with his stinging comments from back in the day about the attitude of professional players this side of the River Severn.

“The Welsh have nothing to keep their players at home for they have no pride in the provincial product, O’Gara claimed in 2014. “They’ve achieved nothing in the regions, it’s about the Welsh jersey.

“They enhance their profile by playing with their country, whereas in Ireland, so many of the players are folk idols because of what they have done at provincial level. It’s practically on a par with the international team, which may not be right in some eyes, but the people of Dublin and Leinster and the people in Munster adore those who wear their jersey.”

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You couldn’t imagine too many in dressing rooms across the four regions celebrating such comments.

Anyway, that was then; O’Gara now operates out of France, where he is coach of La Rochelle. He has built a reputation for himself for rugby intelligence and established himself as a sharp-eyed analyst of the game who is prepared to say what’s on his mind without fear.

He is also a vocal touchline presence. Unfortunately, his, err, demonstrative nature doesn’t always please everyone.

And so to Stade Chaban Delmas on Saturday, where Bordeaux-Begles and La Rochelle were locked in a ferocious contest. Just before half-time, O’Gara celebrated an incident a little too vociferously for the taste of his opposite number Christophe Urios. There was a fist pump, while a few choice words appeared to be aimed in the direction of Urios.

The Frenchman turned around and walked across to