Melani Nanai to face a disciplinary hearing for hit on Jonny May
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Worcester Warriors fullback Melani Nanai is to appear before a virtual independent disciplinary panel at 18:00 on Tuesday 18 August 2020.
Nanai was shown a red card by referee Christophe Ridley in the 19th minute of the match between Worcester Warriors and Gloucester on Saturday 15 August 2020.
This was for a dangerous charge on Gloucester's Jonny May, contrary to World Rugby Law 9.16.
Regulation 9.16 states: A player must not charge or knock down an opponent carrying the ball without attempting to grasp that player.
The sanctions for contravening regulation 9.16 vary from 2 weeks for a low-end entry to 10+ weeks.
May was attacking into the Warriors' 22 midway through the first half where he was met by two Worcester defenders, the second of which was full-back Melani Nanai, whose challenge looked potentially dangerous in real-time and even worse on the replay.
The collision left May on the deck as physios rushed to his aid with playing being halted immediately as referee Christophe Ridley checked with his TMO.
Replays confirmed that Nanai's right arm was by his side in a "slingshot positioning", as Ridley described it. His shoulder made direct contact to the crown of May's head, leaving the officials little choice but to show the red card.
The game against Gloucester was Nanai's first appearance for Worcester since December last year with the fullback arriving at the club from the Blues following the completion of the 2019 Super Rugby season.
On Sunday, Nanai publically apologised for the tackle on May via his twitter.
Just wanted to say sorry to @J0nnyMay, my team mates, the staff @WorcsWarriors and all our fans for yesterday. It wasn’t my intention to tackle that way & sending my best to Jonny and the Gloucester team for the rest of the season 💛💙
— Melani Nanai (@nanai_melani) August 16, 2020
