Italy second-row, Sara Tounesi, appeared before an independent judicial committee on Monday having been cited for biting (Law 9.12) in Italy’s Rugby World Cup 2021 Pool B match against Japan on 23 October, 2022. The citing was denied.
The independent Disciplinary Committee was chair.ed by the independent Judicial Panel Chair, Christopher Quinlan KC who was joined by judicial officer Brenda Heather-Latu (Samoa) and former international player Ofisa Tonu’u (New Zealand).
The Committee considered all the evidence including from the victim player, the player (Ms Tounesi) and the video footage of the incident. The Committee concluded that the player bit a Japanese player which offence merited a red card and accordingly upheld the citing complaint. The Committee decided that the appropriate entry point was mid-range (18 matches) but having regard to her mitigation, reduced the sanction to 12 matches.
The player is therefore suspended for Italy’s quarter-final match against France on 29 October with the remaining matches to be determined once the playing schedules of Italy and the player are known.
The player has the right of appeal within 48 hours of receiving of the full written decision.
Meet the HAPs (that’s husbands and partners) who’ll be cheering on England’s Red Roses
THE entire nation will be cheering on the England women’s rugby team this Rugby World Cup.
But also shouting words of encouragement from the sidelines in their match against Fiji in their pool opener in New Zealand are the players’ supportive partners.
We take a look at the loved ones who could help the team to victory.
#1. Sarah Hunter’s boyfriend Nathan Smith
She has more than 120 caps for England and played in the victorious World Cup squad in 2014.
She is currently captaining England women in New Zealand. Hunter lives with her boyfriend, Nathan Smith, near Loughborough He is a coach at Doncaster Knights rugby club.