Leicester’s Cockerill slams Castrogiovanni’s ‘disgusting’ rant

Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill has labelled Martin Castrogiovanni’s expletive comments as “disgusting”, adding it has “sullied” the former Tigers prop's relationship with the club.

Castrogiovanni and Toulon team-mate Delon Armitage are to be investigated by the French club after the pair were involved in foul-mouthed rants - the former's aimed at Cockerill.

And the 43-year-old said he hopes appropriate punishment will be enforced, while slamming Castrogiovanni’s jibe that Leicester are an amateur club.

"I'm disappointed really," Cockerill told Sky Sports. "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 publicly for that. I'm sure he'll get disciplined in the right manner."