The first major suspension of the 2019 Rugby World Cup was issued today as Australian Reece Hodge was banned for three games for his high tackle on Peceli Yato of Fiji.
Hodge will miss the rest of Australia's pool games. He'll notably miss out for the Wallabies' huge match against Wales, as well as games against Uruguay and Georgia.
BREAKING: Reece Hodge suspended for three weeks. Wow. Will miss Wales, Uruguay and Georgia pool matches. Down from six weeks #drama
— Tom Decent (@tomdecent) September 25, 2019
Hodge wasn't whistled for an offence but a disciplinary panel ruled that the tackle deserved a red card. Yato failed an HAI after the incident and had to be substituted. The panel ruled:
Having acknowledged Hodge’s exemplary disciplinary record, good character and conduct at the hearing, the committee reduced the six-match entry point by three matches, resulting in a sanction of three matches.
Absolutely baffling reading so many tweets saying Reece Hodge's ban is an outrage. There's absolutely no question it should have been a red card. Bang to rights.
— Alex Terrell (@alxterrell) September 25, 2019
Seeing a lot of Australian journalists and fans outraged at the fact that Reece Hodge has even received a ban - let alone the length of it.
Was it not signposted clearly enough heading into the tournament that you couldn’t stick a shoulder on someone’s head? #RWC2019— Ben James (@benjames1796) September 25, 2019
Three match ban for Wallabies winger Reece Hodge.
Not surprised by the result.
But I don’t agree with it.
He was deemed to have made a dangerous tackle with “high degree” of danger.
Precedent set.
Now consistency must be shown. Dangerous times #RWC2019— Christy Doran (@ChristypDoran) September 25, 2019
Talk about a precedent being set for the rest of the World Cup. Wallabies will be filthy. Hodge didn’t speak to media on way out
— Tom Decent (@tomdecent) September 25, 2019
Michaek Cheika was very chirpy about Fiji referring the Hodge incident to World Rugby.
“I’d prefer that they come up to me and get upset with me if they’re really upset about it, not to just talk to me in that nice, friendly chitty-chat way and then go behind your back and put in a referral. I don’t think I’ve ever referred anyone over my time.”
