Tonga’s Vaea Fifita to miss last two Rugby World Cup pool games in red card ban
Tonga’s Halaleva Fifita during the Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Scotland and Tonga at the Stade de Nice, in Nice, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
NICE, France (AP) — Tonga No. 8 Vaea Fifita was suspended for their last two Rugby World Cup pool games against South Africa and Romania on Tuesday for his red card.
Fifita shoulder-charged the head of Scotland’s Finn Russell in a ruck near the end of a pool match that Scotland won 45-17 on Sunday in Nice.
Fifita was yellow-carded at the time and it was upgraded to red after the match by a bunker review. At his judicial hearing on Tuesday, the former All Black admitted to foul play but challenged the red card.
The panel said it was always illegal and there was no mitigation. The charge was reckless with a high degree of danger, the panel added.
It started the sanction at six matches and removed two for Fifita’s remorse and disciplinary record.
His four-game ban included the Pool B games against South Africa on Sunday and Romania on Oct. 8, and two club games for Scarlets.
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