Queensland Reds and Wallabies winger Suliasi Vunivalu has been suspended from all forms of the game for a week after receiving a red card in last weekend's loss to Fiji's Drua.
Vunivalu was first shown a yellow card by referee Angus Gardner in the fifth minute after he brought down Drua winger Kitioni Salawa with his right foot.
The Reds winger received a second yellow card of the second half after referee Gardner consulted TMO Brett Cronan about another incident of potential four-way play.
Vunivalu was seen to have reached the threshold for another yellow card in the 45th minutey The minute the player was sent off for the remainder of the round 13 match in Suva.
The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) found Vunivalu guilty of contravening Law 9.12 which states: “A player shall not physically assault any person. Physical assault includes, but is not limited to, tripping.
Vunivalu has been suspended from all game forms up to 25y May 2024.
The PLC, headed by Stephen Hardy, Ovisa Tono and Stephane Terblanche, assessed the incident. Hardy ruled as follows:
“After conducting a detailed review of all available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including reports submitted by the player, the Foul Play Review Board upheld the red card and found that the player had breached Law 9.12.
“The FPRC assessed the player's actions as including two separate foul play actions of tripping.
“The FPRC has found that these actions amount to continuing offenses under Law 9.12, which calls for a two-week suspension of the entry point.
“The player was given a 50% discount for entering an early admission of guilt (and other relevant mitigating factors including remorse and previous disciplinary record), which reduced the suspension from two weeks to one week.” Therefore, the player has been suspended until May 25, 2024.”
Vunivalu will miss the Queensland Reds' upcoming clash with the Western Force in Brisbane, but will be available to return the following week against the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney.
