/ 6 October 1999

TONGAN FULLBACK SLAMMED WITH SUSPENSION

TONGAN fullback Siua Taumalolo was handed a 21-day suspension on Tuesday night by the World Cup disciplinary committee. Taumalolo has paid a hefty price for a series of high tackles committed during the game against New Zealand at Bristol on Sunday. He has been banned until October 26, effectively ruling him out of Tonga’s World Cup campaign. Taumalolo’s three-week punishment followed an identical penalty imposed on Argentine prop Roberto Grau, who was dealt with by a disciplinary panel in Cardiff on Monday night. The panel also suspended Wales flanker Colin Charvis for 14 days after he and Grau were both cited for punching during last Friday’s World Cup opener in Cardiff. Earlier on Tuesday officials decided to take no further action against Samoan prop Brendan Reidy, who was cited for punching during his team’s first-round match against Japan in Wrexham on Sunday.