Disciplinary: Salesi Rayasi

Foul Play Review Committee: Michael Heron QC (Chairman), John Langford and Stefan Terblanche
Player: Salesi Rayasi
Team: Hurricanes
Position: Wing
Date of Incident: 4 June 2022
Nature of Offence: SANZAAR Judicial Rule 6.3 - A player who has breached Rule 6.2 in the same Competition and who receives any subsequent Yellow Card or Warning shall be required to appear before the Foul Play Review Committee appointed for the Match during which he last offended. At the same time as notification of the details of his hearing pursuant to Rule 4.1, the Player shall be sent copies of the Match Officials’ Reports in relation to the subsequent incident, the Judicial Report from the previous Rule 6.2 hearing and be advised that the purpose of the hearing before the Foul Play Review Committee is to consider the circumstances in which the subsequent yellow card and/or Warning was received and determine whether a preliminary indication of penalty should be made to the Player by reason of his persistent foul play, or the matter referred to a full hearing, pursuant to Rule 7.


SANZAAR NEWS RELEASE

Salesi Rayasi suspended for 1 week

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has examined a matter relating to Salesi Rayasi of the Hurricanes for contravening SANZAAR Judicial Rule 6.3, after he was Yellow Carded during a Super Rugby Pacific Match at the Weekend.

Rayasi was awarded a Yellow Card in Rd 6, a Yellow Card in Rd 11, a Yellow Card in Rd 15 and a Yellow Card in the Quarter Final.

Rayasi appeared before the SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee previously for a breach of SANZAAR Judicial Rule 6.2 after receiving his 3rd Yellow Card for the Tournament. Rayasi received a caution for his repeated offending at that point in time. Subsequently, after receiving a 4th Yellow Card in the Super Rugby Pacific Quarter Final between the Brumbies and Hurricanes at GIO Stadium in Canberra on 4 June 2022, the Foul Play Review Committee have suspended Rayasi for 1 week, up to and including 11 June 2022.

The SANZAAR Judicial Rules in Section 8 of the Tournament Manual state:
6.2
A Player who has received either a total of three yellow cards or of three Warnings or any combination of three yellow cards and Warnings arising from Matches in the same Competition shall be required to appear before the Foul Play Review Committee appointed for the Match during which he last offended. At the same time as notification of the details of his hearing pursuant to Rule 4.1, the Player shall be sent copies of the Match Officials’ Reports in relation to each incident and be advised that the purpose of the hearing before the Foul Play Review Committee is to consider the circumstances in which each yellow card and/or Warning was imposed and determine whether a preliminary indication of penalty should be made to the Player by reason of his persistent foul play, or the matter referred to a full hearing, pursuant to Rule 7.
6.3
A player who has breached Rule 6.2 in the same Competition and who receives any subsequent Yellow Card or Warning shall be required to appear before the Foul Play Review Committee appointed for the Match during which he last offended. At the same time as notification of the details of his hearing pursuant to Rule 4.1, the Player shall be sent copies of the Match Officials’ Reports in relation to the subsequent incident, the Judicial Report from the previous Rule 6.2 hearing and be advised that the purpose of the hearing before the Foul Play Review Committee is to consider the circumstances in which the subsequent yellow card and/or Warning was received and determine whether a preliminary indication of penalty should be made to the Player by reason of his persistent foul play, or the matter referred to a full hearing, pursuant to Rule 7.
The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of Michael Heron QC (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and John Langford assessed the case.

In his finding, Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Michael Heron QC ruled the following: 

"The Foul Play Review Committee conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd." 

"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee considered the guidance in Appendix 4 of World Rugby Regulation 17 and found the act of repeated offending did warrant a further sanction due to the fact the Player had previously received a caution from the Foul Play Review Committee for such behaviour. The Foul Play Review Committee found the repeated offending merited a 2 week sanction, but taking into account mitigating factors including the Player's acceptance of foul play, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 1 week."

"The player is therefore suspended up to and including 11 June 2022.”

All SANZAAR disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to the Foul Play Review Committee to provide the option of expediting the judicial process.

For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the person appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the Foul Play Review Committee.