The growing Super Rugby suspension list
DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Fijian Drua captain Nemani Nagusa has accepted a four-game suspension for his high, swinging-arm tackle and will miss his side’s historic Super Rugby Pacific homecoming clash.
The four-game ban is the heaviest across the competition this season as World Rugby continues its crackdown on high contact.
Nagusa was sent off in the first half of their loss on the Gold Coast last weekend after he connected with the head of Waratahs five-eighth Tane Edmed with a wild swinging arm while attempting to make an off-the-ball tackle.
Nagusa was one of five players shown red cards in the latest round of Super Rugby Pacific for head-related infringements as SANZAAR attempts to improve player safety and limit concussion fears.
Blues wing Caleb Clarke will face a judiciary on Wednesday after he was sent off for a leaping effort to smother a ball saw his knee collect an opponent’s head.
Reds backrow Tauina Tualima accepted a three-week ban for his dangerous cleanout against the Brumbies, while teammate Dane Zander, Blues prop Nepo Laulala and Crusaders hooker Shilo Klein also copped three-week suspensions.
The Drua have been based on the NSW north coast for the majority of this season and have played out of the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and will call Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane home on Saturday.
They are set to play in Fiji for the first time, against the Highlanders on April 30, with Nagusa not back until May 14’s clash against fellow newcomers Moana Pasifika in Sydney
