SANZAR hands over one-week ban to Brumbies number eight Ita Vaea – Rugby news
South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby (SANZAR) has handed over a one-week ban to the ACT Brumbies number eight man, Ita Vaea, for his dangerous tackle on Digby Ioane, during a Saturday, June 4, encounter.
Brumbies were playing against the super rugby Australian conference leaders during the round 14 match of the 2011 super rugby championship against the Queensland Reds at Lange Park, Brisbane. The incident occurred during the 48th minutes of the
game that left the Red’s winger Digby Ioane, unconscious on the ground. SANZAR citing commissioner cited Ita Vaea’s tackle and termed it the violations of International Rugby Board (IRB) law 10.4(e).
On Sunday, June 5, ACT Brumbies number eight appeared before the SANZAR Judicial hearing chaired by SANZAR Judicial Officer Paul Tully. The hearing was held at Queensland Rugby Union office in Ballymore, Brisbane. At the end of the hearing, the SANZAR officials
released the details of the proceedings and the results of their findings. It’s worth mentioning that the on field referee did not penalise Vaea for his actions.
Paul Tully asked the Brumbies, Ita Vaea, to justify his tackle in which his elbow and shoulder met Ioane’s jaw and head with force. Such was the impact, that the Red’s winger was taken off the field on a medical buggy and ruled him out of the rest of the
match.
Tully found Ita Vaea guilty of violating IRB Law 10.4 (e) that relates to dangerous tackling of a player above the shoulders and around the neck region. The incident cannot be termed as intentional yet the danger the tackle possessed cannot be rule out.
Tully reiterated SANZAR and IRB’s efforts to remove the head and neck related tackles from of the game. The one-week ban comes is categorized under the low-level offence.
Digby Ioane’s absence cost Reds the game. In absence of their first choice wingers, Reds failed to run the game plan that left them trailing by eight points at the end of the game. However, the Reds have still confirmed their place in the 2011 Super Rugby
Championship play-offs.
One-week ban is effective from June 5, and will keep Ita Vaea out of Brumbies round 16 encounter with the Rebels at Canberra Stadium on Friday, June 10. However, he will be available for the Brumbies in their last match of the season against the Waratahs
at Aussies Stadium on Saturday, June 18.
However, Brumbies are already out of the super rugby play-offs. They are currently placed in 13th position in the combined super xv table with just 3 wins and 28 points coming from their 14 matches in the season.
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