REECE Hodge will miss all of Australia’s remaining pool games after copping a three-week suspension for a dangerous tackle on Flying Fijian flanker Peceli Yato.
After a four-hour hearing in Tokyo, World Rugby announced that judicial committee chair Nigel Hampton QC and two other panellists found Hodge guilty of foul play for the 25th minute hit on Yato.
“In considering all the available evidence, including multiple broadcast angles and submissions from Hodge and his legal representative, the committee deemed that the incident was an act of foul play and warranted a red card in line with the high tackle sanction framework,” the statement from World Rugby said.
The committee acknowledged the incident was not deliberate but that Hodge made contact with the head.
“Given the above outcomes, the committee determined that the act of foul play warranted a red card,” the statement said.
With Hodge’s good character record, the penalty was reduced from the mandatory six-match suspension to three.
