Tonga hooker Paula Ngauamo suspended for seven weeks

Tonga hooker Paula Ngauamo has been banned for seven weeks following an incident in their final game of the World Cup against the United States of America.

The 29-year-old was cited by the citing commissioner for kicking the head of an opponent as a breach of Law 9.12 during Tonga's 31-19 win in Osaka.

The disciplinary hearing was scheduled on Tuesday in front of an independent Judicial Committee that was chaired by Alan Hudson (Canada) joined by former international player Stefan Terblanche (South Africa) and former referee Valeriu Toma (Romania).

Ngauamo did not attend the hearing in person but admitted to foul play in a written submission and considering he has been suspended twice in the last four years for dangerous play, the panel warranted that his actions warranted a seven-week suspension.

 "The Judicial Panel accepted the explanation on behalf of the player [Ngauamo] that he had acted recklessly, not deliberately, in his actions which resulted in his left boot making contact with an opponent's nose causing a laceration, in that immediately prior to committing the act of foul play, he had been obstructed by the opponent while the player was not in possession of the ball and both he and this opponent had gone to ground; he was frustrated and angry and attempted to get back to his feet quickly; and he kicked out with his left leg and in so doing, unintentionally but recklessly made contact with an opponent's face," read a statement from World Rugby.

"The force involved in the kicking motion was determined to be moderate and the act of kicking an opponent contains a clear element of significant risk to a vulnerable opponent. The Judicial Panel noted the feature of provocation in that the player had been obstructed prior to the action in question."

As a result, Ngauamo will miss seven weeks of club rugby when he returns to Agen for the new season.