Samoa's Melina Salale suspended after World Cup red card

Samoa’s Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign has been dealt a blow after Melina Salale was suspended following a red card in their Pool A clash against Australia at the Salford Community Stadium on August 23.

Salale was sent off for a dangerous tackle under Law 9.13 and faced a disciplinary process the next day. The Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) initially proposed a three-match suspension, with the possibility of it being reduced to two if the player successfully completed the Coaching Intervention Programme.

However, as Salale did not accept the proposed sanction, the case was referred to a Disciplinary Committee for a full in-person hearing.

The panel, chaired by Philippe Cavalieros of France alongside former England international Leon Lloyd and ex-Irish referee Donal Courtney, reviewed the incident on August 25.

After considering all submissions, including those from the player and World Rugby, the committee confirmed the red card was valid.

They determined that there was no mitigation to downgrade the red card to a yellow. The result was an upheld sanction of three matches, which could be reduced to two should Salale complete the intervention programme successfully.

This ruling means that Salale could miss the remainder of the group stage and potentially the knockout rounds, depending on Samoa’s progress in the competition. It is a significant setback for the team as they continue their campaign in England.

Under World Rugby’s Off-Field Disciplinary Process, there is no right of appeal in cases where the disciplinary committee acts as the appellate body, as it did in this instance.