Frank Lomani gets 6 week ban

Foul Play Review Committee: Stephen Hardy (Chairman), Ofisa Tonu’u and Stefan Terblanche

Player: Frank Lomani

Team: Fijian Drua
Position: Halfback
Date of Incident: 5 April 2024
Nature of Offence: Law 9.12  - A player must not physically abuse anyone. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to punching or striking with hand, arm (including stiff-arm tackle), elbow or shoulder
Elapsed time in match when incident occurred: 56:22

SANZAAR NEWS RELEASE

Frank Lomani suspended for 6 weeks

The Super Rugby Pacific Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) has found Frank Lomani of the Fijian Drua guilty of contravening Law 9.12: A player must not physically abuse anyone. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to punching or striking with hand, arm (including stiff-arm tackle), elbow or shoulder.

Frank Lomani has been suspended from all forms of the game up to and including 26 May 2024.

The incident occurred in the 56th minute of the match between Melbourne Rebels and Fijian Drua, played at AAMI Park in Melbourne on 5 April 2024.

The FPRC comprising Stephen Hardy (Chairman), Ofisa Tonu’u and Stefan Terblanche assessed the incident.

In his finding, FPRC Chairman Stephen Hardy ruled as follows:

"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card and found the Player to have contravened Law 9.12."  

“The entry point for the offence was 10 weeks (assessed as Top-End range for intentional and deliberate physical abuse of striking with an elbow to the back of the victim player’s head and causing injury, where the victim player was in an incredibly vulnerable position with limited ability, if any, to defend himself).  The Player was given a discount for entering an early guilty plea (and other relevant mitigating factors), reducing the suspension from 10 weeks to 6 weeks.  The Player is therefore suspended up to and including 26 May 2024.”

“In providing the Player the Sanction, the Foul Play Review Committee emphasised that this sort of incident is not tolerated in any form of the game.”