Rugby World Cup 2023: Tonga’s Vaea Fifita to miss last pool games in red card ban

Tonga No. 8 Vaea Fifita was suspended for their last two Rugby World Cup pool games against South Africa and Romania today for his red card.

Fifita shoulder-charged the head of Scotland’s Finn Russell in a ruck near the end of a pool match that Scotland won 45-17 on Monday in Nice.

Fifita was yellow-carded at the time and it was upgraded to red after the match by a bunker review. At his judicial hearing today, the former All Black admitted to foul play but challenged the red card.

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The panel said it was always illegal and there was no mitigation. The charge was reckless with a high degree of danger, the panel added.

It started the sanction at six matches and removed two for Fifita’s remorse and disciplinary record.

His four-game ban included the Pool B games against South Africa on Sunday and Romania on Oct. 8, and two club games for Scarlets.

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