Fiji rugby prop Mesake Doge has been cleared to play after an independent Disciplinary Committee overturned a red card issued against him for dangerous tackling.
Doge appeared before the committee on September 17, 2025, following the red card he received during Fiji’s Pacific Nations Cup match against Canada on September 14.
A Foul Play Review Committee had initially recommended a four-match suspension, reduced to three pending completion of a Coaching Intervention.
However, Doge contested the sanction, leading to a full disciplinary hearing.
The Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Mike Heron KC (New Zealand) and joined by former internationals Sarah Smith (Scotland) and Jamie Corsi (Wales), reviewed video footage, statements, and submissions from Doge and his team.
While the committee agreed foul play had occurred with head contact and a high degree of danger, it found significant mitigation.
It ruled that the Canadian ball carrier’s forearm struck Doge’s jaw, preventing him from lowering his body and contributing to the contact.
Citing the “unusual nature of the circumstances,” the committee concluded that the red card was not warranted.
As a result, Doge is free to play with immediate effect.
