Stade wing Raisuqe hit with 10-week stamping ban
Stade Francais wing Josaia Raisuqe will not play again this season after he was hit with a 10-week ban for stamping on Ospreys teenager Keelan Giles.
Raisuqe was shown a yellow card following the incident and was later dismissed during Stade's 25-21 European Challenge Cup victory at the Principality Stadium.
Ospreys coach Steve Tandy said Raisuqe ought to have seen red after clashing with 19-year-old flyer Giles midway through the first half.
Raisuqe was cited and has now been hit with a suspension that will keep him out until at least August 7.
The 22-year-old and European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) has the right to appeal against a sanction that was issued by an independent Disciplinary Committee.
An EPCR statement said: "Following recent sanction guidelines concerning kicks and stamps to the head, the Committee was required to find that the offence was at the top end of World Rugby's sanctions, and 12 weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
"One week was added due to Raisuqe's recent disciplinary record, and then taking into account the player's timely apology to Keelan Giles as well as his admission that he had committed an act of foul play, the Committee reduced the sanction by three weeks before imposing a 10-week suspension.
"At the earliest, Raisuqe will be free to play on Monday, 7 August, however, the suspension could extend to a later date subject to confirmation of Stade Francais Paris' forthcoming playing schedule. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision."
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Spot on Ben. Dead right. Havili looked great at 10. Easily the highest rugby IQ of any NZ player these days. Getting a kick charged down is a result of getting used to adjusting your depth to the line at 10, which he will sort out with time. But other than that it was an outstanding first effort in that position this year. I think the NZ media has misunderstood this directive from Razor. Havili might rank behind B Barrett this year, but Beuden is 33 this month and won't last much longer. DMaC is great but flaky and not really a test match animal (his efforts in Dunedin versus Aus last year for example). If Razor can't have Mounga, DMaC is too unstructured for Razor (and is just too small for test rugby). Havili will end up our first choice first five, and in partnership with Jodie will be excellent. Two triple threat operators in tandem, and big bodies and tough tacklers to boot. Jordoe will be the ABs goal kicker. I am an Aucklander and Blues (and Warriors) fan, but Havili at 10 is going to be sensational in time… he can be the best first five in the world by the end of this year. No question.
Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
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