Independent disciplinary update: George Moala (Tonga)

Tonga's George Moala has been suspended for five matches, having received a red card in Tonga’s international test match against Canada on 10 August.

Independent disciplinary update: George Moala (Tonga)

Tonga's George Moala, appeared before an independent judicial committee on Monday, 14 August, having received a red card for an offence contrary to Law 9.18 (A player must not lift an opponent off the ground and drop or drive that player so that their head and/or upper body make contact with the ground) during the international test match between Tonga and Canada on Thursday, 10 August.

The independent Disciplinary Committee was chaired by Stephen Hardy (Australia), joined by former player Stefan Terblanche (South Africa) and former international referee Valeriu Toma (Romania).

The player accepted that foul play occurred and that the offending warranted a red card. The Committee considered the Player’s submissions as to entry point along with all other evidence and decided that the offence warranted a mid-range sanction (ten matches). Having considered the mitigating factors, the Committee decided to reduce the sanction by the maximum mitigation of 50 per cent. The matches to which the sanction applies is to be confirmed.

The player has the right of appeal within 48 hours of the issuing of the full written decision