Japan’s Naoto Saito attended a hearing before an independent Disciplinary Committee on 15 July, 2024 having been cited for an offence contrary to Law 9.11 (a player must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous) having made contact with the head of the ball carrier in Japan’s international match against Georgia in Sendai on 13 July, 2024.

The independent Disciplinary Committee was chaired by Philippe Cavalieros (France), joined by former international referees Donal Courtney (Ireland) and Val Toma (Romania).

The player accepted that foul play had occurred and that the offence warranted a red card.

The Committee considered the appropriate entry point for the offending and decided that the offence warranted the mandatory mid-range entry point for foul play involving the Head Contact Process. The Committee did not find there was any reason to increase the sanction. Having considered submissions as regards mitigation, the Committee applied full 50 per cent mitigation to the sanction resulting in a sanction of three matches. The player is entitled to apply for World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention for Sanction Mitigation programme which, upon successful completion, will reduce the sanction by one match, to two matches.

The player is therefore suspended for the following matches:

• Japan v Italy – 20 July, 2024
• Canada v Japan – Pacific Nations Cup 2024 – 25 August, 2024
• Japan v USA – Pacific Nations Cup 2024 – 7 September, 2024*

* Subject to successful completion of the Coaching Intervention Programme.

The player has the right of appeal within 48 hours of the issuing of the full written decision, which will be published here in due course.

Visit World Rugby’s dedicated disciplinary process education and information page here, which includes a video on how rugby’s disciplinary process works.