Two players in the dock after World Rugby U20 finals weekend

The final weekend of the World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa concluded on Friday and two young stars find themselves facing disciplinary panels for their on-field actions.

These players, hailing from Japan, Argentina, and New Zealand, received red cards during their respective matches, prompting the need for independent judicial committees to review their conduct.

Japan’s Yutaro Takahashi, a replacement in the team, will appear before an independent judicial committee on Monday, 17 July. He was sent off in Japan’s 11th-place play-off match against Italy for a dangerous tackle, in violation of Law 9.13.

He hit Filippo Bozzoni of Italy with a head on head tackle that saw him yellow carded by referee Eoghan Cross.

Similarly, Argentina’s Facundo Garcia Hamilton, a talented back-row player, received a red card during the team’s ninth-place play-off match against Fiji for dangerous charging into a ruck or maul, contrary to Law 9.20(a). His hearing date is yet to be confirmed.

Meanwhile, New Zealand women’s player Tanya Kalounivale finds herself facing possible sanction following an incident in the Pacific Four Series. She was cited for a dangerous tackle in the same match against the USA during the World Rugby Pacific Four Series. Her hearing date is yet to be confirmed.

New Zealand’s Iritana Hohaia, a promising scrum-half, faces an uncertain date before an independent judicial committee for a dangerous tackle in their match against the USA on the final day of the World Rugby Pacific Four Series. Her actions were in violation of Law 9.13.

The independent Disciplinary Committee that will hear the matter will be confirmed in the coming days.