Hodge hit with ban of three games by panel

Australia will be without Reece Hodge for the remainder of the group stages, after the wing was handed a three-match ban for a dangerous tackle on Fiji’s Peceli Yato. He will now miss Australia’s three remaining pool stage matches against Wales, Uruguay and Georgia, but will be eligible from the quarter-finals onwards at the Rugby World Cup.

The disciplinary committee, comprising Nigel Hampton QC, former international coach Frank Hadden and former referee Jose Luis Rolandi, deemed the incident was an act of foul play and warranted a red card in line with the high-tackle sanction framework. Hodge was initially given a six-week ban, which was then lowered to three weeks due to his exemplary disciplinary record, good character and conduct at the hearing.

The incident was reviewed at the time by the match officials, including Kiwi referee Ben O’Keeffe and television match official Rowan Kitt, who ruled there was no foul play. Yato, who scored Fiji’s opening try in Sapporo, suffered a concussion from the incident, leaving the field for a head injury assessment which he subsequently failed.

Fiji reported Hodge to the citing commissioner following the match, which Australia won 39-21, angering Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika, who claimed he had been told by Fiji in the aftermath that they would not refer the incident.

Hodge’s ban comes the day after World Rugby admitted refereeing performances had been “not consistently of the standards set by World Rugby and themselves”.

Australia have 48 hours to appeal against Hodge’s ban, with the Rebels back likely to be replaced by Dane Haylett-Petty.

Meanwhile, Wales name their side to face Australia in Tokyo later this week and wing George North still believes the Wallabies pose a serious attacking threat even without sacked former fullback Israel Folau.

“With or without Izzy it’s a potent attacking side. They have threats of physicality, speed, aerial threats as well. We have to go up a gear,” North said yesterday.