La Rochelle’s French fly-half, Antoine Hastoy, was sent-off after just 34 seconds on Sunday night following a kung-fu style kick on his opponent which ultimately cost his team
France fly-half Antoine Hastoy was sent-off after only 34 seconds after he was shown a red card for a kung-fu style kick on Sunday night during La Rochelle’s loss to Pau.
The Top 14 clash at the Stade du Hameau witnessed the quickest ever red card in the top flight of French rugby. The game had only just got going when Referee Jeremy Rozier called a halt to play.
He awarded a penalty to the home side and asked his TMO to show him the footage of the collision, which actually occurred on 19 seconds. Hastoy, who has ten caps for his country, gathered a high ball but as he jumped lifted his boot, which caught the chasing Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang in the face.
Pau made their one-man advantage count, eventually securing a 53-33 win to keep themselves near the top of the table. It was a forgettable trip for La Rochelle, who were back-to-back European champions back in 2023, and their boss Ronan O’Gara.
The Ireland legend admits he hadn’t planned to be man down that early and claims there was mitigation which could’ve worked in Hastoy’s favour, but ultimately the referee didn’t see it that way.
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He said: “I had imagined many scenarios before this match, but it’s difficult for me to digest, difficult to understand as well. Let’s just say that with hindsight, I understand the logic of this ‘kung-fu fighting’ a little better, studs to an opponent’s head. I find it hard to believe that he [Hastoy] intended to hurt the opponent. It changed the game.
“The referee told me he saw blood… and that’s what decided everything. Antoine might have been caught a bit off guard. It was a courageous skill, under that first pressure, at home, especially since we had been talking all week about Pau’s aerial threat. I’m not an expert, but there were mitigating circumstances…
“I don’t think the action was clear-cut enough to warrant a red card.”
O’Gara himself was also shown a red card for his frustrations. Hastoy’s kung-fu kick will now be the subject of a disciplinary hearing in France whilst O’Gara will also be called to account for his own sending off. The Munster icon has had several previous bans as the La Rochelle boss, and could now be set for a lengthy suspension.
La Rochelle’s loss on Sunday was their fifth defeat in the Top, leaving them in 10th place after 11 matches. The French domestic season will now taking a pause ahead of the opening two rounds of Investec Champions Cup.
La Rochelle will host Leicester Tigers on Saturday.
