Fiji Drua captain Nemani Nagusa suspended for four weeks
Nemani Nagusa was red carded during the game against Waratahs
©PA
Fijian Drua skipper Nemani Nagusa has been handed a four-week ban following his red card incident in the recently concluded Super Rugby Pacific game game against Waratahs.
Nagusa was sent off in the 27th minute of the encounter for a late and high tackle on Tane Edmed and 10 minutes later halfback Frank Lomani was then sin-binned for an illegal tackle.
The absence of Nagusa proved decisive to Fijian Drua's chances as they slipped from being levelled 7-7 at that point to a 14-38 defeat in the game.
In the ruling, SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee chairman Michael Heron QC said Nagusa's actions warranted a mid-range entry of six-week ban that was reduced taking into account the mitigating factors.
“With respect to sanction the foul play review committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of six weeks due to the World Rugby instructions that dictate any incident of foul play involving contact with the head must start at a mid-range level,’’ said Heron.
“Taking into account mitigating factors including the player’s good judicial record over a long career, his acceptance of foul play and his expressed remorse, the judicial committee reduced the suspension by three weeks.
“All players should be aware of this via World Rugby’s head contact process and the need to remove this pattern of offending from the game.”
The committee added an additional week as a deterrent to this conduct.
Fijian Drua are positioned 10th in the Super Rugby Pacific table with a solitary win from seven games.
