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World Rugby statement: Tonga's George Moala has his appeal dismissed
By Liam Heagney
Tonga midfielder George Moala will miss three of his country’s Rugby World Cup pool matches after having his appeal against his recent five-match ban dismissed.
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It was August 15 when the 32-year-old former All Blacks player was originally suspended by an independent disciplinary committee chaired by Stephen Hardy (Australia) and joined by former player Stefan Terblanche (South Africa) and former international referee Valeriu Toma (Romania).
They decided that the red card Moala was given for his August 10 tip tackle versus Canada warranted a 10-match mid-range entry point.
After applying 50 per cent mitigation, the suspension was reduced to five matches, but the Tongan Rugby World Cup pick decided on August 21 to appeal the sanction.
That appeal hearing has now been heard and the original five-match ban will stay in place.
A statement read: “Tonga centre George Moala’s appeal against the decision of a judicial committee to suspend him for five matches arising from an act of foul play contrary to law 9.18 (lifting tackle) in Tonga’s Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Canada on August 10 was heard remotely on August 24.
“The independent appeal committee was chaired by Christopher Quinlan KC (independent judicial panel chairman), Brenda Heather-Latu (Samoa) and Judge Mike Mika (New Zealand).
“The appeal committee dismissed the player’s appeal against the entry point of the offending. Having considered the evidence before it, the appeal committee found that the judicial committee which heard the case at first instance was entitled to find that the tackle warranted a mid-range entry point and accordingly upheld the decision of the disciplinary committee.
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“As Moala has been selected in the Tonga Rugby World Cup 2023 squad, the suspension remains as imposed by the judicial committee and therefore the player will miss the following matches:
1. Tonga vs Canada, August 15 (World Cup warm-up),
2. Clermont vs Perpignan, August 26 (Top 14),
3. Tonga vs Ireland, September 16 (World Cup),
4. Tonga vs Scotland, September 24 (World Cup),
5. Tonga vs South Africa, October 1 (World Cup).”
It's fairly simple World Rugby set sanctions in the laws are for a tackle above the shoulders entry point 2 weeks mid point 6 weeks top sanction 10 weeks. Name me a pro player of any nation ie Billy Vunipola of England who have ever been sanctioned below the 6 week mid point. The sanctions for tip tackle are harsher entry point 6 weeks mid point 10 weeks and top 14 weeks. He got a mid entry point ban no different to what's doled out for high tackle.
Why is it that when a Tongan, Samoan or Fijian tackles an opposition the way Moala did (which in my opinion was impulsive but not intentional to do more harm), they get a harsher punishment?
Again, unequal level playing field.
Tip tackles are potentially career ending with a broken neck the worst outcome. There's no place for that malevolence in the game. Haven't seen the tackle, but if the victim went past the horizontal and is rammed into the ground then 5 weeks with mitigation is correct. Are the commentators here saying that is not the case and that there is racial bias? In terms of danger a tip tackle is worse than an accidental/poor tackle technique shoulder to the head.
Racists
Racist much!
What a surprise! Shame on you World Rugby and the northern hemisphere losers!!!