Tanya Kalounivale (New Zealand) Citing, Law 9.13 (Dangerous tackle)
New Zealand replacement Tanya Kalounivale appeared before an independent judicial committee on 25 July 2023, having received a citing in New Zealand’s match against USA on the final day of the World Rugby Pacific Four Series on 14 July for an offence contrary to Law 9.13 (dangerous tackle). The independent Disciplinary Committee was chaired by Brenda Heather-Latu, joined by panel members John Langford and Leon Lloyd.
The Committee, having considered the player’s submissions and reviewed all available evidence, found that the red card threshold had been met and that the citing was upheld. The Committee noted that the offence carries a mandatory mid-range sanction (six matches) and having considered the mitigating factors reduced the sanction by the maximum mitigation of 50 per cent. The final sanction is three matches as follows:
- 29 July 2023 – FPC Round 3 – Hawkes Bay v Waikato
- 5 August 2023 – FPC Round 4 – Waikato v Counties Manukau
- 12 August 2023 – FPC BYE Week for Waikato*
- 20 August 2023 – FPC Round 6 – Auckland v Waikato**
* There is no club rugby.
**The player intends to apply to take part in the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme to substitute the final match of the sanction for a coaching intervention aimed at modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play.
The player has the right of appeal within 48 hours of the issuing of the full written decision, which will appear here once published.
Click here to watch the video that explains how rugby’s disciplinary process works.
Visit World Rugby’s dedicated disciplinary process education and information page here.
