Samoan's tournament could be over after red card
NEWS: Melina Salale (Samoa) has been suspended for three matches (reduced to two on successful completion of the coaching intervention) following a disciplinary committee hearing.
Salale received a red card for a Law 9.13 offence (dangerous tackle) during the Samoa versus Australia Women’s World Cup 2025 Pool A match at the Salford Community Stadium on August 23.
The Foul Play Review Committee met on August 24 and originally proposed a sanction of three matches, reduced to two on successful completion of the Coaching Intervention.
In line with the scope of the new off-field sanction process, the player did not accept the sanction, and the matter was accordingly referred to a Disciplinary Committee for a full in-person hearing.
The disciplinary committee was chaired by Philippe Cavalieros (France), joined by former international player Leon Lloyd (England) and former international referee Donal Courtney (Ireland), who met on August 25 to consider the red card.
The disciplinary committee considered all the evidence, including submissions made on behalf of the player and World Rugby and decided that the red card should be upheld.
The committee considered whether there was any mitigation which should have reduced the red card to a yellow card and ultimately decided that there was not.
The disciplinary committee therefore upheld the red card and imposed the original sanction of the FPRC which results in a three-match suspension (reduced to two on successful completion of the Coaching Intervention).
Under World Rugby’s Off-Field Disciplinary Process, there is no right of appeal from the decision of the Disciplinary Committee where they are sitting as the appellate body, as they were in this case.
