STADE FRANÇAIS WING Josaia Raisuqe has been suspended for 10 weeks for stamping on Ospreys wing Keelan Giles in last weekend’s Challenge Cup quarter-final between the sides.
Raisuqe sustained a 15-week ban just last season for a gouge on Munster’s CJ Stander.
The Fijian wing is in trouble again and his recent disciplinary record was taken into account by the independent disciplinary committee who handed out his 10-week suspension after a hearing in Paris today.
Raisuqe was yellow carded for the offence in the 19th minute of Stade Français’ quarter-final win away to the Ospreys on Sunday, subsequently being sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a separate incident.
In upholding the citing complaint against the Stade Français wing, the independent committee determined that the offence was “a stamp to the head and upper body, and therefore warranted a red card.”
A statement from EPCR today says the committee found that the offence was at the top end of World Rugby’s sanctions, meaning a 12-week entry point for Raisuqe’s ban.
A further week was added due to Raisuqe’s recent disciplinary record, but the committee then reduced the suspension by three weeks after “taking into account the player’s timely apology to Keelan Giles, as well as his admission that he had committed an act of foul play.”
Raisuqe is therefore banned for 10 weeks and will be free to play on Monday 7 August, although “the suspension could extend to a later date subject to confirmation of Stade Français Paris’ forthcoming playing schedule,” say EPCR.
Both Raisuqe and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.
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