Ryan Tongia cops one-week ban

Southland winger Ryan Tongia has been suspended from all rugby for one week following a judicial hearing into a dangerous tackle charge during his team’s Mitre 10 Cup match against Canterbury on Friday 8 September.

Tongia was cited under law 10.4.e for the alleged dangerous tackle in the 54th minute of the match played in Christchurch on 8 September. Canterbury won the match 78-21.

New Zealand Rugby Duty Juicial Officer Jonathan Moses accepted Tongia’s admission of the charge, but found the offending to be at the lower end of the scale, with an indicative starting point of a two week suspension. Taking into account Tongia’s guilty plea, remorse and that the opposition player was not injured, the suspension was reduced to one week. 

Tongia’s suspension includes all rugby and means he is not eligible to play in Southland’s Mitre 10 Cup match against Auckland tonight.