New Zealand scrum-half Iritana Hohaia has been suspended for three matches having received a red card in New Zealand’s match against USA on the final day of the World Rugby Pacific Four Series on 14 July.
New Zealand scrum-half Iritana Hohaia appeared before an independent Disciplinary Committee on 25 July 2023, having received a red card in New Zealand’s match against USA on the final day of the World Rugby Pacific Four Series on 14 July, for an offence contrary to Law 9.13 (dangerous tackle). The independent Disciplinary Committee was chaired by Brenda Heather-Latu, joined by panel members John Langford and Leon Lloyd.
The player accepted that foul play occurred and that the offending warranted a red card. The Committee noted that the offence carries a mandatory mid-range sanction (six matches) and having considered the mitigating factors reduced the sanction by the maximum mitigation of 50 per cent.
The final sanction is three matches as follows:
- 29 July 2023 – FPC Round 3 – Otago v Taranaki
- 4 August 2023 – FPC Round 4 – Taranaki v Tasman
- 12 August 2023 – FPC Round 5 – Northland v Taranaki*
*The player intends to apply to take part in the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme to substitute the final match of the sanction for a coaching intervention aimed at modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play.
The player has the right of appeal within 48 hours of the issuing of the full written decision, which will appear here once published.
Frosty Squid
The country with the most losses in International Cricket is England, having played 691 unsuccessful matches. They have also played the most games (1,885).
mr. fabulous
The same whistle is blown at the start of each world cup – This is without a doubt one of our favourite rugby facts. Welsh referee Gil Evans used the same whistle to preside over Rugby games for 20 years, donating it to the New Zealand Rugby Museum in 1969. The tradition was revived for the 1987 Rugby World Cup, and the whistle has been used for every tournament since. Best not to think about how hygienic that 100-year-old whistle is.