Alesana Tuilagi ban: Samoa wing banned for five weeks, but past and present players rage at World Rugby's decision

Tuilagi has been banned for five weeks for striking an opponent with his knee duriong Samoa's defeat to Japan

Alesana Tuilagi was cited for this collision with Japan centre Harumichi Tatekawa (Getty Images)

Samoa wing Alesana Tuilagi has been banned for five weeks by World Rugby, meaning he will miss the rest of the Rugby World Cup plus the start of the Aviva Premiership with his club side Newcastle Falcons.

However, the decision to ban Tuilagi for an incident during Samoa’s 26-5 defeat to Japan last weekend has caused outrage among past and present players of the game.

World Rugby announced on Tuesday that Tuilagi had been cited for striking Japan centre Harumichi Tatekawa with his knee while running with the ball, and having pleaded not guilty ton an independent citing commissioner, the wing was banned for eight weeks which was reduced to five when other mitigating factors were taken into account.

Watch the incident below…

A number of former and current players as well as rugby union writers have criticised the decision, and claimed that while they support making the sport safer, the ban is far too severe for something that looked to be a cause of poor tackling technique rather than foul play.

World Rugby’s statement confirmed that Tuilagi has 48 hours to appeal the decision which has not only ended his hopes of playing in Samoa’s final World Cup match against Scotland on Saturday, but possibly his international career.

World Rugby’s statement read: “Alesana Tuilagi (Samoa) has been suspended for five weeks for an act of foul play contrary to Law 10.4(a) (striking with the knee).

“Following a review of video footage, Tuilagi was cited by independent Citing Commissioner Yves Thieffine (France) under Law 10.4(a) for striking Japan player Harumichi Tatekawa with his knee during the second minute of Samoa’s Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool B match against Japan at Stadium MK on 3 October.

“Tuilagi denied the act of foul play. Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles, medical evidence, evidence from the player and submissions from his legal representatives, the Judicial Officer Antony Davies (England) upheld the citing on the basis that the player had committed the act of foul play.

Samoa wing Alesana Tuilagi has been banned for five weeks (Getty Images)

“With respect to the sanction, the Judicial Officer determined that the offence was mid-range, which has an entry point of eight weeks. However, taking into account mitigating factors including his impeccable conduct during the hearing, good character and record over a long career and the absence of any off-field aggravating factors, the player was suspended for a period of five weeks.

“In the context of the Rugby World Cup a week equates to one match. The suspension takes effect immediately, therefore Tuilagi is suspended for Samoa’s final Pool B match against Scotland on 10 October. Thereafter the suspension reverts to weeks with the player’s club Newcastle Falcons and the player is suspended up to and including 9 November, 2015. The player is free to play again on 10 November, 2015.

“The player has 48 hours in which to appeal from the time he receives the full decision.”