Another Samoan player hit with three-match ban
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Samoa’s Motu Matu’u was slapped with a three-game ban on Friday following a crackdown on high tackles at the World Cup.
Matu’u was punished for his tackle on Russia’s Vasily Artemyev.
Australia wing Reece Hodge, Samoa centre Rey Lee-Lo and USA flank John Quill have already been hit with three-game bans for high tackles at the World Cup, while England’s Piers Francis has been cited.
World Rugby announced a clampdown on high tackles, which can sometimes cause concussion, before the quadrennial tournament, and introduced a framework to help referees decide punishments.
However, the governing body also criticised refereeing standards after the opening weekend of the tournament, following complaints over a number of incidents.
Matu’u is not scheduled to play for Samoa against Scotland on September 30 due to undergoing the graduated return to play protocol. He will therefore miss Samoa’s final two pool matches and the quarterfinal should Samoa progress, or his next scheduled match with his club London Irish on October 26.
The suspension will therefore end at midnight after the World Cup 2019 quarterfinals if Samoa qualifies or at midnight on October 26 if Samoa do not qualify for the quarterfinals, after which he is free to resume playing.
*Meanwhile, Samoa loose forward Afa Amosa has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury suffered during the World Cup victory over Russia, the owner of his club Bordeaux-Begles Laurent Marti said on Friday.
Amosa, 28, left the field during the 34-9 win after scoring the Pacific Islanders’ second try of the game.
“According to information received by the club’s doctor Afa has suffered a tear to his anterior cruciate ligament and his medial cruciate ligament is also damaged,” Marti said.
“He’s unavailable for eight-nine months, so season over. Our doctor is in the process of bringing him to France so we can carry out the surgery here. On a sporting level it’s a big loss,” he added.
Samoa head coach Steve Jackson said earlier in the day uncapped Alamanda Motuga will replace Amosa in their World Cup squad and the seven-a-side specialist could feature in their next game in tournament against Scotland on Monday.
Bordeaux-Begles sit second in the French Top 14 table and travel to Montpellier on Sunday looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
Due to Amosa’s absence Marti’s outfit could extend Masalosalo Tutaia’s temporary World Cup cover contract to until the end of the season.
Source: AFP & @RugbyPass
