John Mitchell suspended by Lions

Jun 22 • International, National, Super Rugby, Super Rugby News • 3642 Views • Comments Off on John Mitchell suspended by Lions

(No Ratings Yet)

John Mitchell (Photo: Bruce Taylor)

MTN Lions coach John Mitchell has been suspended with immediate effect after several players listed grievances against him and the manner in which he treats them.

The suspension was confirmed by GLRU President Kevin de Klerk in an interview with the website Rugby365.

It is not the first time Mitchell has fallen out of favour with his players. In 2008 when he was head coach of the Australian Super Rugby outfit Western Force, players and fellow coaching staff also rebelled against the way he treated them and he was put on restricted duty.

Mitchell was also axed as All Blacks coach in 2003 after he failed to take the team to the final. Rumours later emerged that some players were also unhappy about his coaching style.

Lions assistant coaches Carlos Spencer and Johann Ackermann will now take over the reigns and see the Lions through the rest of the 2012 Super Rugby season.

Kevin de Klerk told Rugby365’s Jan de Koning that “the nature of the complaints is so serious that we have suspended him, pending further investigation,”

John Mitchell MTN Lions suspended western force