Estebanez banned for three weeks
Source: Agencies |
October 4, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
FRANCE center Fabrice Estebanez will miss the rest of the Rugby World Cup after being suspended for three weeks for a dangerous tackle in the upset loss to Tonga.
Estebanez was suspended late on Monday after a judicial hearing in Auckland, where he admitted making the tip tackle on Tongan replacement lock Joe Tu'ineau in the second half of Saturday's 14-19 defeat in Wellington.
The suspension will run until October 24, the day after the World Cup final.
France is playing a quarterfinal on Saturday against 2003 champion England, which finished atop Pool B.
France's World Cup campaign has been full of frustration so far, with team harmony at a low point following difficult wins over Japan and Canada before back-to-back losses to New Zealand and Tonga in Pool A.
Rugby World Cup judicial officer Christopher Quinlan of England found Estebanez guilty of a mid-range dangerous tackle after reviewing footage and taking evidence from the player. Estebanez was yellow carded during the match. France has 48 hours to appeal.
His suspension means a player from each team was suspended in the wake of the match.
After a hearing late on Sunday, Quinlan banned Tongan winger Sukanaialu Hufanga for five weeks for a dangerous tip tackle on French winger Vincent Clerc just before halftime. Hufanga cannot resume playing before November 7.
A series of other players have been cited over weekend incidents. England winger Delon Armitage was banned for one week for a high tackle on rival fullback Chris Paterson in the 16-12 win over Scotland in Pool B on Saturday night and will miss the quarterfinal against France.
Georgia winger Lekso Gugava was suspended for five weeks for a tip tackle on Argentina center Felipe Contepomi during the Pumas' 25-7 win on Sunday. And Samoa center Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu is due to face a misconduct hearing for criticizing Welsh referee Nigel Owens' performance in his team's 5-13 loss to South Africa on Friday night.
Estebanez was suspended late on Monday after a judicial hearing in Auckland, where he admitted making the tip tackle on Tongan replacement lock Joe Tu'ineau in the second half of Saturday's 14-19 defeat in Wellington.
The suspension will run until October 24, the day after the World Cup final.
France is playing a quarterfinal on Saturday against 2003 champion England, which finished atop Pool B.
France's World Cup campaign has been full of frustration so far, with team harmony at a low point following difficult wins over Japan and Canada before back-to-back losses to New Zealand and Tonga in Pool A.
Rugby World Cup judicial officer Christopher Quinlan of England found Estebanez guilty of a mid-range dangerous tackle after reviewing footage and taking evidence from the player. Estebanez was yellow carded during the match. France has 48 hours to appeal.
His suspension means a player from each team was suspended in the wake of the match.
After a hearing late on Sunday, Quinlan banned Tongan winger Sukanaialu Hufanga for five weeks for a dangerous tip tackle on French winger Vincent Clerc just before halftime. Hufanga cannot resume playing before November 7.
A series of other players have been cited over weekend incidents. England winger Delon Armitage was banned for one week for a high tackle on rival fullback Chris Paterson in the 16-12 win over Scotland in Pool B on Saturday night and will miss the quarterfinal against France.
Georgia winger Lekso Gugava was suspended for five weeks for a tip tackle on Argentina center Felipe Contepomi during the Pumas' 25-7 win on Sunday. And Samoa center Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu is due to face a misconduct hearing for criticizing Welsh referee Nigel Owens' performance in his team's 5-13 loss to South Africa on Friday night.
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