Folau and Tahs lose out
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: The Waratahs were dealt a critical blow on the eve of their decisive Super Rugby showdown with the Rebels.
Wallaby fullback Israel Folau had his one-match suspension upheld by a World Rugby appeal committee.
Folau received the ban after a judicial panel upheld a citing commissioner warning – issued to Folau for a mid-air challenge with Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony in the ninth minute of Australia’s clash with Ireland in Sydney last Saturday.
The warning, effectively an off-field yellow card, came after Folau was issued a yellow card earlier in the game.
In both instances, he was found guilty of a dangerous air tackle against an Irish opponent.
The two yellow cards, in the same game, amounted to a red card and an automatic hearing – where he was issued with the one-match ban.
Folau appealed the ban.
The appeal committee – chaired by Antony Davies (England), alongside Olly Kohn (Wales) and Beth Dickens (Scotland) – heard the appeal on Thursday.
They could not conclude that the decision of the judicial panel was wrong, and dismissed the appeal.
With the sanction remaining in place, Folau will not take his place in the Waratahs line-up for Friday’s clash with the Rebels in Melbourne.
