Two Tavua Rugby Union players have been handed lengthy suspensions after being found guilty of misconduct towards a match official during the Vodafone Vanua Championship clash against Rewa Rugby Union.
The Fiji Rakavi Football Union Limited (FRFU) confirmed that a Judicial Committee hearing chaired by a World Rugby Judicial Officer was held on June 16 to consider serious incidents arising from the elimination-round match.
Following a review of match reports, video footage, witness statements and submissions, the Judicial Officer found that two Tavua players had breached World Rugby Regulation 17, Law 9.28 relating to misconduct towards a match official.
The offences involved verbal abuse, repeated disrespect towards a match official and, in one case, physical abuse.
“The Judicial Officer determined that the conduct was serious, unacceptable and fundamentally inconsistent with the values of rugby,” FRFU said in a statement.
“The conduct was also found to have had a significant psychological impact on the Match Official involved.”
Tavua player Jone Lewenilovo received a suspension of 31 weeks, equivalent to seven months and three weeks, after being found guilty of verbally abusing and repeatedly disrespecting the authority of the referee.
According to the ruling, Lewenilovo continued confronting and verbally abusing the match official despite being instructed to step away.
The harsher sanction was imposed on Tavua captain Gabrieli Ratu, who was suspended for 52 weeks, or one year, after being found guilty of both verbal and physical abuse of a match official.
“Having considered all evidence presented, including video footage, the Judicial Officer found on the balance of probabilities that the player physically abused the Match Official before continuing to verbally abuse the official,” the statement said.
The sanctions take immediate effect and have been accepted by Tavua Rugby Union.
In addition to serving their suspensions, both players must complete an FRFU-supervised anger management programme and attend a Level 1 Match Official Introduction Course before being allowed to participate in rugby again.
“Neither individual will be eligible to participate in any rugby activity, in any capacity, until all rehabilitation requirements have been completed to the satisfaction of FRFU,” the statement said.
The sanctions follow the release of FRFU Circular No. 12 of 2026, which reaffirmed the union’s zero-tolerance policy on abuse of match officials, assault, intimidation, threatening behaviour and field invasions.
Acting Chief Operations Officer Talemo Waqa said the penalties should serve as a warning to all participants in the game.
“Match Officials are an essential part of rugby and deserve to perform their duties in a safe and respectful environment,” Waqa said.
“These incidents fall well short of the standards expected in Fiji Rugby and have no place in our game.”
He added that the union would continue taking strong action against behaviour that threatens officials or damages the sport’s reputation.
“We will continue to take firm action against any individual or organisation whose conduct threatens the welfare of Match Officials or undermines the integrity of rugby,” Waqa said.
FRFU reiterated that the safety of match officials is non-negotiable and warned that any abuse, intimidation, threats, harassment or physical misconduct directed at officials would attract serious disciplinary consequences.
