Hurricanes hooker suspended for three weeks

Tevita Mafileo of the Hurricanes has copped to a foul play charge during the past weekend’s win over the Rebels in Melbourne.

Hurricanes hooker suspended

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The Hurricanes had their share of disciplinary issues with Ardie Savea drawing attention for a throat-slit gesture.

However, Mafileo is the man who has been sanctioned for an unrelated incident.

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A press release from SANZAAR reads: “The Foul Play Review Committee has accepted a guilty plea from Tevita Mafileo of the Hurricanes for contravening Law 9.20: Dangerous play in a ruck or maul, after he was Red Carded during a Super Rugby Pacific Match at the Weekend.”

Mafileo has been suspended from all forms of the game for 3 weeks up to and including 25 March 2023.

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The incident occurred in the 43rd minute of the match between the Rebels and Hurricanes at AAMI Park in Melbourne on 3 March 2023. 

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of Michael Heron KC (Chair), John Langford and Stefan Terblanche assessed the case.

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On the shelf

In his finding, Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Michael Heron KC ruled the following: 

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“Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card under Law 9.20.” 

“With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of 6 weeks due to the World Rugby instructions that dictate “any act of foul play which results in contact with the head and/or the neck shall result in at least a mid-range sanction”. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Player’s clean judicial record and pleading guilty at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 3 weeks.”

“Additionally, due to this incident being the Player’s first offence, the FPRC have deemed Tevita Mafileo eligible to apply for World Rugby’s Head Contact Process – Coaching Intervention.”

“The player is therefore suspended for 3 weeks, up to and including the 25th March 2023.”

All SANZAAR disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to the Foul Play Review Committee to provide the option of expediting the judicial process.

For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the person appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the Foul Play Review Committee.

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