Italy hooker Epalahame Faiva handed four-week suspension
Epalahame Faiva was red carded during the game against Ireland
©PA
Italy hooker Epalahame Faiva has been handed a four-week ban following his red card incident in the recently concluded Six Nations clash against Ireland.
Faiva was sent-off in the 19th minute in the last weekend's encounter at Aviva Stadium for a dangerous tackle on Dan Sheehan reducing them to 13 players for the remainder of the game as they were forced to go to uncontested scrums.
His red-card proved costly for Italy as their losing streak continued in the Six Nations tournament which is at 35 now as Ireland romped to a 57-6 victory.
The 27-year-old faced an independent disciplinary hearing and was proved guilty of breaching Law 9.13 which states A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. He was initially suspended for six weeks that was reduced by two taking into account his guilty plea, conduct during hearing and other mitigating factors.
“The player had acted recklessly by committing a high and dangerous tackle whereby his shoulder had made direct contact with the neck of an opponent with significant force. This had been correctly sanctioned on field by the match referee following World Rugby’s Head Contact Process.
“On that basis, the Committee applied World Rugby’s mandatory minimum mid-range entry point for foul play resulting in contact with the head. This resulted in a starting point of a six-week suspension.
“Having acknowledged no aggravating factors and mitigating factors including the player’s previous unblemished record, the committee reduced the six-week entry point by two weeks, resulting in a sanction of four weeks.
“The Player may apply to take part in the Coaching Intervention Programme to substitute the final match of his sanction for a coaching intervention aimed at modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play.
“The player has the right of appeal within 3 working days of the issuing of the full written decision.”
Having lost all the three games, Italy are languishing at the bottom of the Six Nations table and will face Scotland next on 12th March at Stadio Olimpico.
