Fijian banned for dangerous tackle
It has ruled him out of a key World Cup clash against Australia.
World Cup organisers said 29-year-old back row forward Waqaniburotu was suspended "after admitting an act of foul play".
He was found guilty of perpetrating one of the most abhorred tackles in the sport, whereby one lifts one's opponent and drives him into the ground off his feet, though not necessarily landing on his head.
Waqaniburotu was penalised, but not sin-binned for the tackle on May.
The Fijian was hauled before an independent judicial officer, Lorne Crerar, a Scottish law professor, after a review of television footage showed it was "a dangerous tip tackle," said a World Cup statement.
"Having conducted a detailed review of all the evidence available, including all broadcast angles and additional evidence from the player and submissions from his legal representative" Crerar "considered that the incident was more appropriately characterised as a dangerous tackle."
But it added that "the offence was deemed to be low-end" and with mitigating factors including Waqaniburotu's "admission and remorse" the usual two week ban was reduced to one week.
Waqaniburotu is suspended for Fiji's match against Australia on Wednesday but will be available for Fiji's third Pool A match against Wales on October 1.
The Fijian can appeal but was not expected to.
Agence France-Presse
