All Black prop Ofa Tuungafasi suspended for the rest of the season
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All Blacks prop Ofa Tuungafasi has been hit with a three-week suspension, ultimately ending his season after he was shown a straight red card during the first half of Bledisloe IV in Brisbane last weekend.
The front-rower was given his marching orders in the 23rd minute for a dangerous tackle on Wallabies debutant Tom Wright after he hit the speedster on the chin.
SANZAAR’s judicial committee has since upheld the decision and have given the prop a ban that has ruled out until the beginning of the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season.
The organising body of the Tri Nations confirmed the suspension on Wednesday with the three-man judicial committee deeming that Tuungafasi contravened Law 9.13: A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously.
Tuungafasi has been ruled out up to and including February 20, a week before the Blues kick-off their 2021 season.
Ofa Tu'ungafasi is the third All Black to be sent off in the professional era 🔴#AUSvNZL #BledisloeCup pic.twitter.com/I5jFTR73Z0
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) November 7, 2020
“Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including submissions from the player and from his legal representative, Stephen Cottrell, by majority decision the judicial committee upheld the red card under Law 9.13,” judicial committee chair Robert Stelzner SC said.
With respect to sanction the Judicial Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of 6 weeks due to the World Rugby instructions that dictate any incident of foul play involving contact with the head must start at a mid-range level.
However, taking into account mitigating factors including the fact the Player has pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and has a clean judicial record, the Player was entitled to a full 50% reduction.
