Tonga’s Vaea Fifita to miss World Cup games against South Africa and Romania

Tonga number eight Vaea Fifita will miss the upcoming Rugby World Cup games against South Africa and Romania following a four-game suspension.

The 31-year-old was initially sin-binned after he shoulder-charged the head of Scotland’s Finn Russell during the group encounter between Tonga and Scotland but was later upgraded to a red card following a bunker review system.

He faced an independent disciplinary hearing and pleaded guilty to foul play but challenged the red card sanction.

The panel upheld the red card of Fifita and deemed the tackle was dangerous handing him a suspension of six weeks that was reduced by two taking into account his previous disciplinary record.

He will now miss the matches against South Africa and Romania on 1st and 8th October respectively apart from two games for his club Scarlets.

Tonga have lost both their matches in the ongoing World Cup and languishing at the fourth place in Pool B that is topped by Ireland.