Champions Cup: Richard Cockerill 'disgusted' by Martin Castrogiovanni's rant
Wednesday 10 December 2014 18:09, UK
Leicester chief Richard Cockerill says he was “disgusted” by Martin Castrogiovanni’s expletive-ridden rant about him and the club.
And Cockerill says the Italy star’s astonishing verbal attack has “sullied” memories of Castrogiovanni’s trophy-laden time with the Tigers.
The prop called his own press conference in the wake of Toulon’s Champions Cup defeat to Leicester on Sunday.
He then launched a withering attack on Cockerill and the Tigers for the manner in which he departed the club for Toulon, saying he never wanted to speak to the Leicester director of rugby again.
Castogiovanni left in the summer of 2013, saying he paid £100,000 of his own money to be released a year early from his contract. He reserved particular scorn for Cockerill and his part in the deal, and called Leicester "amateur".
But Cockerill said he allowed Castrogiovanni to leave purely because Dan Cole was his first choice tighthead, and admits he was "amazed" by the 33-year-old's outburst in front of the assembled press.
Professional
"I’m disappointed really,” Cockerill told Sky Sports News HQ. “In professional sport people move on for all sorts of reasons.
"He left a year early from his contract. He wasn’t getting picked. He wanted to move on because he was of an age where he wanted to play.
"I put a price on him, he agreed a deal and he moved on. We did it in a very professional manner, as you would expect from Leicester. I was amazed when he called his own press conference… and off he went.
"I’m sure he’ll have his explanation for it. I’m sorry that he has sullied what was a fantastic playing career here. He was an icon of the club and a fans’ favourite.
"There’s lots of things about this place. One thing it isn’t is an amateur club. For him to say that, for me, it’s disgusting. He needs to make sure he apologises publically for that. I’m sure he’ll get disciplined in the right manner.”
