Hurricanes flank Vaea Fifita has been handed a three-week suspension for a dangerous tackle in the match against the Sharks.

The incident occurred in the 74th minute of the match when Fifita made an off-the-ball tackle on Dan du Preez, with the initial point of contact on Du Preez’s neck area, which led to a red card.

Fifita appeared before the Sanzaar foul play review committee after being cited for contravening ‘Law: 9.13 A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously’.

According to the committee’s chairperson, Helen Morgan, the player’s act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of six weeks due to the World Rugby instructions that dictate any incident of foul play involving contact with the head must start at a mid-range level. But the suspension was reduced due to mitigating factors.

‘Taking into account the player’s clean judicial record, his acceptance of foul play and his expressed remorse, we reduced the suspension to three weeks.’

Fifita is therefore suspended from all forms of the game up to and including 22 June.

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