Filipo Daugunu receives 3-match ban

Australia’s Filipo Daugunu has been suspended for two matches (subject to the completion of World Rugby's Coaching Intervention Programme) for a red card offence contrary to Law 9.11 (dangerous tackle). The red card was issued Australia’s match against Georgia in Sydney on 20 July 2024.

The independent Disciplinary Committee was chaired by Michael Heron KC (New Zealand), joined by former international referee Donal Courtney (Ireland) and former international rugby player Stefan Terblanche (South Africa).

The player accepted that foul play had occurred but did not accept that the offence warranted a red card.

The Committee considered the player’s submissions, along with the clips and other available evidence and found that the red card was upheld. While the red card issued was for Law 9.13 (Dangerous Tackle), the Committee decided that the offence should be 9.11 (Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous) as it was an attempted charge down.

The Committee considered the appropriate entry point for the offending and decided that the offence warranted the mandatory mid-end entry point for offending involving contact with the head of 6 matches. Having considered submissions as regards mitigation, the Committee applied full 50 per cent mitigation to the sanction resulting in a sanction of threematches. An additional match may be removed from the sanction should the player complete the World Rugby Coaching Intervention for Sanction Mitigation (“CISM”) which applies to foul play involving Head Contact.

The player is therefore suspended for the following matches:

1. Sunnybank v Souths Round 16, Hospital Cup 27 July 2024
2. UQ v Sunnybank Round 17, Hospital Cup 3 August 2024
3. Australia v South Africa Rugby Championship (Round 1) 10 August 2024*

*Subject to the successful completion of the CISM.

The player has 48 hours to appeal from receipt of the full written decision.