A FORMER Fiji rugby under – 20 player Adrea Cocagi has copped a nine week ban, after a shoulder charge on an Irish opponent in a European Challenge Cup rugby match between Perpignan and Connaught last week in France.
Fiji-born Adrea Cocagi contested the red card he received in Perpignan’s home game against Connacht last weekend.
Cocagi, 24, was sent off by English referee Ian Tempest in the 58th minute after striking Matt Healy with his shoulder while attempting a tackle on the Connacht wing.
He faced a hearing conducted by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) in Paris on Thursday where an independent disciplinary committee upheld the red card decision and found that Cocagi had launched himself at speed at a prone opponent, it found that the act of foul play was at the top end of World Rugby’s sanctions
A top end offence generally attracts a ban of between 10 and 52 weeks, but the committee selected 10 weeks as the appropriate entry point.
An EPCR statement said: “There were no aggravating factors; however, as the player did not accept the red card decision and as he does not have a clear disciplinary record, the committee found that the sanction could only be reduced by one week (10 per cent) by way of mitigation before a nine-week suspension was imposed.
Cocagi who has the right to appeal will be free to play on March 4.
