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Red-carded Rebels star Reece Hodge handed Super Rugby Pacific suspension
By Alex McLeod
Melbourne Rebels star Reece Hodge has been handed a one-week suspension by SANZAAR after he was sent from the field in his side's Super Rugby Pacific loss to the Force on the weekend.
Hodge was brandished two yellow cards, one for cynical play and the other for a deliberate knock down, in the second half of the Rebels' 28-3 defeat in Melbourne on Saturday, with the second culminating in a red card.
Upon review of Hodge's dismissal, the SANZAAR found the 54-test Wallabies utility back guilty of his indiscretions and have banned him from playing in this week's match between the Rebels and Fijian Drua on the Sunshine Coast.
The verdict leaves the Rebels without one of their most experienced squad members as they continue their search for their first win of the new season.
The Rebels will continue to do so without many of their Wallabies, with 2021 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year nominee Andrew Kellaway (foot), Rob Leota (hamstring) and Pone Fa'amausili (calf) all sidelined with injury.
Hopes remain high, however, that Kellaway will feature this weekend, which could prove helpful given his versatility as both a wing and fullback.
Others who remain unavailable due to injury include loose forward Josh Kemeny and lock Trevor Hosea, while Wallabies hooker Jordan Uelese and wing Lachie Anderson are in a race against time to prove their fitness for the match against the Drua.
That fixture on Friday, which has been relocated from Brisbane due to flooding at Suncorp Stadium, stands as a bottom-of-the-table clash, with both team occupying 11th and 12th spots, respectively.
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Latest Comments
Willis is incredible and probably the best of the bunch but in Underhill and Earl we have two excellent alternatives.
Willis is solid in the lineout but I don't think Borthwick would pick a backrow without a 6'5" blindside.
Go to commentsAs an ABs fan there’s nothing to justify
The Boks are the best and just know how to win
And their depth is incredible now
And when they don’t they lose late on by one point
The rest of us aren’t too far away (some closer than others)
But in reality if we include England Argentina and now Aus rugby looks greatly competitive
Bongis knock on and Lomaxes double bank
These things happen
The fact is the ABs overall have evolved with new players and others like Aumua Vaai and Williams who have progressed immensely
But by and large although it has improved overall our second halves are a massive work in progress
So a B- is about right provided there is no loss to Italy
A loss drops it to C- !!
Remember we could have lost all three games to England but were just slightly better that’s all
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