Irish centre Aki suspended for rest of tournament after receiving three-match ban

Bundee Aki will miss the rest of the World Cup after receiving a three-match ban for his red card against Samoa.

The Ireland centre was sent off in the 47-5 Pool A win over the Samoans in Fukuoka on Saturday, for a high tackle on UJ Seuteni.

Aki, pictured, faced a disciplinary hearing in Tokyo on Monday, contesting the red card decision in a bid to be available for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand.

But the 29-year-old failed in that quest and was hit with a three-week ban, that would even rule him out of the World Cup final, should Ireland make it that far.

“The player sought to overturn the red card,” read a World Rugby statement, confirming the three-week suspension. “Having considered all the angles of the incident, together with evidence from the player and his representatives, the committee upheld the decision of the referee.”

The independent disciplinary committee of Adam Casselden, Frank Hadden and Valeriu Toma rejected Aki’s and Ireland’s attempts to have the red card rescinded.

And that leaves head coach Joe Schmidt’s men one player short for the remainder of the tournament.

Aki would have been pushing hard for a start in Saturday’s New Zealand clash, but his absence could pave the way for fit-again Robbie Henshaw to partner Garry Ringrose in midfield. Aki has 48 hours to appeal the decision, so has the right to launch a further challenge. But precious few attempts yield a reversal of the original ruling.

Ireland flew out specialist lawyer Derek Hegarty to Japan for Aki’s disciplinary hearing, but he was unable to convince the panel to overturn the red card decision.

World Rugby ruled there were no “clear and obvious mitigating factors” to account for Aki’s high tackle, and imposed an initial six-week suspension that was halved on account of the Connacht star’s good disciplinary record.

Head coach Schmidt had hinted Ireland would respect the outcome of the disciplinary hearing.but Ireland issued a short statement in the wake of Aki’s ban, and will now weigh up whether to launch an appeal against the decision.

“The Ireland management are disappointed with the outcome and will review the judicial committee’s written report,” read the Irish Rugby Football Union statement.