Australia’s Hodge cited after concussion tackle at Rugby World Cup

TOKYO: Australia wing Reece Hodge was cited on Sunday after a controversial tackle that left Fiji’s Peceli Yato concussed in their opening game at the Rugby World Cup.

Hodge will appear before an independent judicial committee and looks likely to be slapped with a ban after his high, no-arms hit on Yato which stopped a certain try.

Fiji, who were leading 11-7 at the time, eventually lost the game 39-21 and Yato took no further part. The date of the hearing is yet to be announced.

Experts had questioned why no action was taken after the incident, which took place in the 25th minute at Sapporo Dome.

South African sports scientist Ross Tucker, who helped draw up World Rugby’s framework to help referees decide how to sanction high shots, said it should have been an automatic red card.

And former top referee Jonathan Kaplan said he had “absolutely no idea” how Hodge avoided a red card.

“Going into this tournament World Rugby have been very clear about contact with the head and what constitutes a red card under their new High Tackle Sanction framework,” Kaplan wrote in his column for Britain’s Daily Telegraph. - AFP