Tuisue banned after tackle he claimed was 'at most a yellow card'

Fiji back-rower Albert Tuisue has paid a heavy price for the tackle he claimed merited no more than a yellow card versus Ireland last Saturday. The Gloucester forward was red-carded by French referee Mathieu Raynal following his second-half collision with Joe Carbery in Dublin and he will now miss four matches.

A statement read: “Fiji back row Albert Tuisue appeared before an independent judicial committee via video link having received a red card for an act of foul play contrary to law 9.13 in Fiji’s international match against Ireland on November 12.

“The independent disciplinary committee - chaired by Philippe Cavalieros (France) and joined by former internationals Stefan Terblanche (South Africa) and Leon Lloyd (England) - heard the case, considering all the available evidence, including multiple broadcast angles and submissions from the player and his representative.

“The player denied that he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card, but admitted that the act was worthy of at most a yellow card. Having reviewed all the evidence, the committee noted that the player had under the applicable regulation the burden of proving that a red card was not warranted.

“On the basis of the available evidence, notably the footage of the incident, the disciplinary committee was not satisfied that the player met his burden of proof in this respect and notably considered that there was some degree of danger under the head contact process arising out of the contact with the head of the victim player.

“The committee also considered that the player had not met his burden of proof in applying mitigating factors to the incident. 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 mitigating factors, including the player’s conduct during the hearing and taking into account his disciplinary record, the committee reduced the six-week entry point by two weeks, resulting in a sanction of four weeks (to be served as follows given the player’s upcoming schedule):

• French Barbarians vs Fiji, November 20, Stade Pierre Mauroy;
• Three remaining matches to be confirmed.

“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.”