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.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Very risque behaviour
No justification for a stamp but it might make Giles think twice about holding on to prevent the counter-attack next time; could have been yellow-carded for that.
And the funny thing is stamping backwards like this was actually called rucking 20 years ago if god forbid you found yourself on the wrong side of the ball.
Not an accurate comparison here as no ruck had formed but certainly accurate in terms of the stamping action on yer mans chest!
this thing of knocking off weeks for apologising or a guilty plea is boll#x, especially when he has had a previous ban.
Raisquel
Vindictive player