Force star banned, out of Super Rugby play-off

NEWS: The Western Force have suffered a huge blow with strike centre Tevita Kuridrani rubbed out of their historic Super Rugby AU semifinal against the Brumbies on Saturday.

Kuridrani has been suspended for three games for a dangerous tackle on Hunter Paisami in the Force’s finals-sealing 30-27 upset win over the Queensland Reds last Friday in Perth.

The former Wallabies centre was among the Force’s best performers but received a yellow card for the second-minute offence.

The citing commissioner deeming the tackle had actually met the red-card threshold for foul play.

The SANZAAR foul play review committee of chairman Adam Casselden, Mike Mika and Stefan Terblanche subsequently found Kuridrani guilty via a video-conference hearing and banned the midfield powerhouse for three games.

In his finding, Casselden noted that Kuridrani, who pleaded guilty, acted recklessly rather than intentionally in placing Paisami in a vulnerable position.

With Paisami not injured, and taking into account Kuridrani’s relatively good judicial record over a long career, the veteran No.13 was only outed for three games instead of a potential six matches or more.

Former All Black Richard Kahui is likely to replace Kuridrani in the starting line-up as the Force look to continue their giant-killing run at GIO Stadium.

The Force have made the play-offs of a Super Rugby competition for the first time in their 16-year existence.

The winner of the Brumbies-Force match will face the Reds in the final on May 8 at Suncorp Stadium.

Melbourne forwards Isi Naisarani and Pone Fa’amausili were outed for three games for high tackles, both on Waratahs lock Max Douglas during the Rebels’ 36-25 win over the Waratahs last Saturday.

The pair won’t be available again until the Rebels’ round-four trans-Tasman Super Rugby clash with the Chiefs in Hamilton on June 5.