Bordeaux lose prop ahead of Sharks showdown due to ban

NEWS: The Union Bordeaux-Bègles prop Toma’akino Taufa has been suspended for three weeks following his red card against Exeter Chiefs in Round 3 of the Champions Cup.

Taufa was sent off by referee Ben Whitehouse (Wales) in the 68th minute of the match for a dangerous tackle in contravention of Law 9.13.

Law 9.13 A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.

Taufa faced the independent Disciplinary Committee of Matthew O’Grady (England, Chair), Mark Curran (Ireland) and Tony Wheat (Ireland) on Thursday.

According to the official EPCR statement, the Tongan international accepted that he had committed an act of foul play, but he submitted that it would not have warranted a red card.

Raymond Rhule, Springbok and double Champions Cup winner, retires due to injury. The La Rochelle star took an unforgettable journey to the top of European rugby.

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The Disciplinary Committee nevertheless upheld the red card and selected six weeks as the appropriate entry point.

No aggravating factors were present, and on the basis of the mitigation submitted on the player’s behalf, a three-week discount was applied to the entry point of six weeks.

The player was therefore suspended for three weeks.

The prop will be free to play from February 17 2025.

However, if he applies for and completes World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention Programme he will receive a further deduction of one week from his sanction and will be free to play from Monday, January 27.

Meanwhile, Clermont Auvergne prop Giorgi Akhaladze has been suspended for four weeks following his red card against Bath Rugby at The Recreation Ground on Sunday.

Akhaladze was sent off by referee Mike Adamson (Scotland) in the 24th minute of the match for a dangerous tackle in contravention of Law 9.13.

Both the players and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.