Breaking News: Due to tripping, Vunivalu suspended for one week after loss to Fijian Drua.
Breaking News: Due to tripping, Vunivalu suspended for one week after loss to Fijian Drua.
After tripping two opponents during the Queensland Reds’ Saturday afternoon loss to the Fijian Drua in Fiji, wing Suliasi Vunivalu was given a one-week suspension, which dealt a setback to the team’s chances of making the playoffs.
Within four minutes of the game, he was given a yellow card for tripping Drua’s Kitione Salawa a few meters from the try line with his right leg. This cost his team a penalty try. In the second half, he repeated the action, clipping Selestino Ravutaumada as he charged towards the line.
Referee Angus Gardner was forced to show Vunivalu a red card even though Ravutaumada did not go down because the TMO found sufficient evidence that Vunivalu had tripped the wing.
Law 9.12 states that “a player may not physically abuse any person.” The Foul Play Review Committee states that “the player was given a 50% discount for entering an early guilty plea, reducing the suspension from two weeks to one.” Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to, tripping.
Vunivalu will be available for the finals series as well as the Reds’ matchup with the Waratahs in Sydney during the final round.
