Fiji Drua’s Frank Lomani and Jone Koroiduadua have found out their bans after red cards in the self destruction against the Rebels.
Test No.9 Lomani has been banned for six weeks for his elbow to the head of Rebels forward Josh Canham that left a bloody wound on his rival. While SANZAAR handed down the two punishments there was still no word on their investigation into allegations that Lomani was racially abused by a crowd member after his red card.
Koroiduadua was suspended for two weeks after a glancing headbutt on Rebel Alex Mafi as the Drua collapsed in the second half of the 40-21 loss in Melbourne.
The Super Rugby Pacific Foul Play Review Committee found Lomani guilty of contravening Law 9.12: “A player must not physically abuse anyone. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to punching or striking with hand, arm (including stiff-arm tackle), elbow or shoulder.”
Frank Lomani of Fijian Drua leaves the field during the round seven Super Rugby Pacific match between Melbourne Rebels and Fijian Drua at AAMI Park, on April 05, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
The Fiji No.9 has been suspended from all forms of rugby until after May 26.
In his finding, FPRC Chairman Stephen Hardy ruled:
“Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card and found the Player to have contravened Law 9.12.
“The entry point for the offence was 10 weeks (assessed as Top-End range for intentional and deliberate physical abuse of striking with an elbow to the back of the victim player’s head and causing injury, where the victim player was in an incredibly vulnerable position with limited ability, if any, to defend himself). “
Although Lomani faced a 10 week suspension it was reduced to six due to entering an early guilty plea and what was described by the panel as “other relevant mitigating factors.”
“In providing the Player the Sanction, the Foul Play Review Committee emphasised that this sort of incident is not tolerated in any form of the game,” the panel said.
Koroiduadua of the Fijian Drua guilty of contravening Law 9.12 – “A player must not physically abuse anyone. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to striking with head.”
He has been suspended from all forms of the game until after April 27.
Damon Murphy shows the red card to Jone Koroiduadua of Fijian Drua during the round seven Super Rugby Pacific match between Melbourne Rebels and Fijian Drua at AAMI Park, on April 05, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Jone Koroiduadua been suspended from all forms of the game up to and including 27 April 2024
Chairman Stephen Hardy ruled: :
“Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions, and World Rugby’s Head Contact Process, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card and found the Player to have contravened Law 9.12.
“The FPRC deemed the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of 6 weeks primarily given that the Player and victim player were “head to head” prior to the incident, and that the Player’s head appears to have made limited contact with the head of the victim player and rather made contact with the chest area of the victim player. There was also no injury to the victim player.”
“The Foul Play Review Committed emphasised that had there been more forceful head contact made, the entry point may well have been higher than low-end.”
“The entry point for the offence is 6 weeks.”
The Fijian received a discount of three weeks for entering an early guilty plea and “other relevant mitigating factors including the player’s otherwise unblemished disciplinary record” and a further one as well.
The [panel stated: “Further, where a matter is determined to be low-end offending, there are off-field mitigating factors, and the sanction would be wholly disproportionate to the level and type of offending involved, a sanction below 50% of the sanction may apply. To that end, the Foul Play Review Committee considered a sanction of 3 weeks would have been wholly disproportionate to the level and type of offending involved, and applied a further reduction of 1 week to the sanction, resulting in a total sanction of 2 weeks.”
Bearswanatah
Roar Rookie
A point of conjecture... best to ask the criminal lawyers... but you an kill someone by forcing heir nose bone through their skull so it's possible. Thanks Paul have a nice day
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
Hey to read it, I wasn’t suggesting it you doing the namecalling, I just said (and I meant in general) about the irony of posters that do it. Apologies if you thought I meant you. The only part for you was a reply when you assumed (or certainly hinted strongly) the mitigating reason for reducing sentence was racial abuse, which was original reply.
Wrecked 'em
Roar Rookie
I think you've been living up to your pseudonym .....
Brumby Jack's acquaintance
Roar Rookie
Ok well I think you've replied to the wrong comment then because I haven't called anyone a coward (although admittedly I called the accused racial abuser a numnuts). I'm simply asking for clarity around the bans justification and suggesting I think they should be longer.
Just call me Campo
Roar Rookie
I would have thought so
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Maybe these days but not 30 years ago!
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
No but I glad you said you guessing, which is my point. You miss the point, about identity, I saying it's (to me) amusing that some would call anyone a coward, or cowardly acts etc while doing it behind a keyboard etc, I not sure insulting anyone or calling them names while in hiding is particularly brave. Just a thing of mine why I refuse to make personal attacks on players, admins etc, and hell I use my own name. See the likes of Geoff and the writers of articles I accept as they standing by their thoughts etc publicly.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I was referring more to the head but as “attempting”. I think a smashed nose that can lead to disfigurement and or ongoing breathing issues would classify as GBH.
Kai Levuka
Roar Rookie
It’s funny when you’re the majority and are deliberately baiting the minority… believe me (despite the ‘smiles’) it ain’t so funny for the minority.
Brumby Jack's acquaintance
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure I follow your point here Danny. We're guessing due to the judiciary being deliberately obtuse with their justification. But they do state "off field" mitigation as justification. What do you suppose that would be? As for my identity, why is that relevant to a discussion on the merits of a judiciary sentencing? Do you just propose we shut the roar down and stop talking about this stuff?
Bearswanatah
Roar Rookie
It wasn’t attempting GBH. GBH is loosely an injury that has the potential to kill you. A broken arm injury inflicted might be GBH. Elbow king hit to the back of the head – blokes rot in gaol for years when the victim dies… I would’ve charged him with GBH in a criminal court – the act was so far outside the bounds of reasonable contact… look up the case law, don’t take my word for it. I had so much respect for their halfback, now he’s just another thug… ok so maybe that sets a dangerous precedent, but at least wipe the grub out for a complete season he shouldn’t be in our game.
Bearswanatah
Roar Rookie
Even UFC (peak bogon sport) banned elbows to the back of the head – for obvious reasons you can kill someone… I for one would’ve charged him GBH – the threshold has been passed, as it had the potential. Disgusting acts. They should at least be banned for the rest of the season.
Qualify
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Qualify
Roar Rookie
Exactly!! :laughing:
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
Who said that the abuse was reason for reducing the sentence?? See seems we all do a lot of guessing etc, and reading many posts in here I wonder if any can see the irony. I think Lomani's act deserved the long ban (if not longer etc). The irony of some of the posts is faceless people writing under non de plumes calling the act cowardice etc, is that not the pot calling the kettle etc?
Julius
Roar Rookie
Lomani's ban is a good reflection of how strange a position rugby union finds itself in currently. There's a lot of emphasis on player welfare, especially hits to the head and brain injuries, where tackles are highly scrutinized and punished when gone wrong, which I certainly celebrate. But here you have a clear as day literal attack by a player on an opposition player, with no context or mitigating factors whatsoever, which literally targeted the head of a player with force and absolute disregard for his well being, and it only got 6 weeks? I've been a rugby fan my whole life but these kind of issues keep pulling me away from the game, if I'm honest.
GusTee
Roar Pro
Hey Paul - You will find in the fine print that he also has to attend the WR "How to headbutt and make it count" remedial course! :stoked:
Geoff Parkes
Expert
You've got Twiggy though, mate. He doesn't come last in much.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Brial, and Richard Loe, are the images which still come immediately into my mind's eye when someone mentions 'dog acts' and vile foul play.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Can The Roar interview Steven Hardy about this? To discern and communicate the underlying principles? I for one would like to know there are some, as the cognitive dissonance does my head in. Goodness knows what it does for the players. They want to be in front of a Disciplinary Board, not a Lottery Board.