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A Top 14 star has been sanctioned after headbutting an opponent during a game
Racing 92 star Janick Tarrit has been hit with a five-week ban after headbutting an opposition player. The 27-year-old was shown a red card during Racing’s 48-24 defeat to Toulouse last month.
Much of the build-up to the Top 14 clash had surrounded the return of Antoine Dupont. However, on the stroke of half-time, Tarrit’s bizarre headbutt to Toulouse forward Efrain Elias ensured he stole the headlines.
The incident was reviewed by the video referee, as the on-field official had already blown the whistle for half-time. Delivering his assessment, the referee said: “What I clearly see is the number 2 in white deliberately headbutting the player at the sternum, without any intention of grabbing him. For me, given the images, it’s a red card.”
Le Parisien reports that the National Rugby League has handed Tarrit a five-week suspension. The Racing hooker has been sanctioned for his violent headbutt to Elias’ stomach following disciplinary committee meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The initial red card dismissal turned the game in Toulouse’s favour, with Elias scoring one of the team’s five subsequent tries during the match. Racing attempted a late comeback but had to settle for defeat.
In the aftermath, Toulouse hooker Guillaume Cramont referenced French football icon Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt during the 2006 World Cup final. Cramont quipped: “He pulled a Zidane, he lost it. I don’t know why he did that.”
Tarrit’s coach Patrice Collazo expressed his frustration with the hooker’s actions. “You can’t predict stupidity,” the Racing 92 coach said about the red card.
“I can understand anything, but not this. When it puts a team in danger, when it breaks the momentum, it’s a deal-breaker. It destroys all our work.”
His suspension means Tarrit will not feature for the rest of 2025. He will be eligible to return to action for Racing from January 4.
Meanwhile, the National Rugby League has also sanctioned La Rochelle fly-half Antoine Hastoy and his manager Ronan O’Gara. On the same day as Tarrit’s headbutt, Hastoy was also sent off after less than a minute of play for catching an opposition player in the face with his foot when receiving a high ball.
The La Rochelle star has been given a three-week ban for his foul on Pau’s Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang. The incident occurred just 34 seconds into the match.
Manager Ronan O’Gara was also sent off later in the game after losing his temper with referee Jeremy Rozier. The Ireland legend is suspended for two weeks.
