Aviva Premiership
Brian Moore calls for action against Cockerill
ESPN Staff
December 30, 2013
Richard Cockerill paces the line during the weekend's match © Getty Images
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Leicester coach Richard Cockerill's broadside at officials and opposition after the Tigers' 30-23 win over Sale Sharks at the weekend is perhaps a fitting end to the year for a man who too often found himself making the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

His main gripe at the weekend - the one which caused him to accuse his opponents of "cheating" - was that Sale's front row constantly refused to take the engagement and walked backwards. "Sale were competitive but when sides come to cheat and cheat and cheat," he said.

But writing in the Daily Telegraph, former England hooker Brian Moore has said that Cockerill is wrong and that the authorities have to step in and reprimand him.

"Charges like cheating and incompetence are serious and should be founded in fact," Moore wrote. The fact is [Cockerill] is simply wrong. There is no offence of not taking the hit or engagement or coming together or anything else. That a former international hooker either does not know this or chooses to invent offences with which to berate all and sundry is risible.

"The Rugby Football Union and Premier Rugby should not tolerate this seemingly ineluctable diatribe against anything he does not like, especially when factually incorrect."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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