NEW ZEALAND’S MALAKAI Fekitoa has been handed a one-week ban for his high hit on Simon Zebo while Sam Cane will not face additional punishment for his tackle on Robbie Henshaw.
The All Blacks centre appeared in front of a disciplinary committee in London today, and they ruled that he should have been shown a red card rather than yellow by referee Jaco Peyper.
Advertisement
Fekitoa “acted recklessly rather than intentionally” when tackling Zebo, the committee found, and handed down a two-week suspension before reducing it to a week.
“There were a number of mitigating factors (including Mr Fekitoa’s immediate acknowledgement of wrongdoing, his previous clean disciplinary record and his good conduct at the hearing),” a statement read.
Fekitoa will miss the final game of the All Blacks’ November tour when they take on France in Paris this weekend.
Meanwhile, team-mate Cane will not face further disciplinary action for his first-half tackle on Henshaw that led to the Leinster centre being carted from the field on a stretcher.
Despite Ireland’s objections, Peyper ruled that Cane’s hit on Henshaw only warranted a penalty, and the disciplinary committee has agreed with his prerogative, deeming his contact with the back’s head as “accidental”.
Henshaw has already been ruled out of Ireland’s Test against Australia on Saturday while Cane is also unavailable for New Zealand’s match against France with an ankle injury he suffered just minutes after the Henshaw incident.
Sam Cane's hit on Robbie Henshaw. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
New Zealand's Fekitoa banned but Cane escapes further punishment
Updated at 19.40
NEW ZEALAND’S MALAKAI Fekitoa has been handed a one-week ban for his high hit on Simon Zebo while Sam Cane will not face additional punishment for his tackle on Robbie Henshaw.
The All Blacks centre appeared in front of a disciplinary committee in London today, and they ruled that he should have been shown a red card rather than yellow by referee Jaco Peyper.
Fekitoa “acted recklessly rather than intentionally” when tackling Zebo, the committee found, and handed down a two-week suspension before reducing it to a week.
“There were a number of mitigating factors (including Mr Fekitoa’s immediate acknowledgement of wrongdoing, his previous clean disciplinary record and his good conduct at the hearing),” a statement read.
Fekitoa will miss the final game of the All Blacks’ November tour when they take on France in Paris this weekend.
Meanwhile, team-mate Cane will not face further disciplinary action for his first-half tackle on Henshaw that led to the Leinster centre being carted from the field on a stretcher.
Despite Ireland’s objections, Peyper ruled that Cane’s hit on Henshaw only warranted a penalty, and the disciplinary committee has agreed with his prerogative, deeming his contact with the back’s head as “accidental”.
Henshaw has already been ruled out of Ireland’s Test against Australia on Saturday while Cane is also unavailable for New Zealand’s match against France with an ankle injury he suffered just minutes after the Henshaw incident.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
‘You’re playing Australia, it’s not time for rest’: Ireland shaking off pain of defeat
O’Connell in the running as eir Sports Book of the Year is cut to 5
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
France Ireland Malakai Fekitoa New Zealand November Tests Rugby Sam Cane