Independent Disciplinary Update: Sam Cane Decision

Sam Cane of the TOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH was sent off for two yellow cards at the match between TOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH and KOBELCO KOBE STEELERS held on 10 January 2026. 

This is to inform that in accordance with Article 34 (Judicial and Citing) of the JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE ‘Official Match Guidelines 2025-26’ and the Japan Rugby Football Union ‘Regulation of Sanctions for Foul Play’, the Judicial Officer conducted a hearing with the player and decided to apply the following sanctions.

■Regulation 17 (DISCIPLINE - FOUL PLAY): Details of the Incident

Player: Sam Cane

Team:TOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH

Date of Incident: 10 January 2026

Nature of Offence: 

 YC① Law 9.13 –  A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.

 YC② Law 9.7(a) – A player must not: Intentionally infringe any law of the game.

Sanctions: No additional sanctions

* B. Player receives two Temporary Suspensions/Citing Commissioner Warnings in one Match 

2. The Judicial Officer or Judicial Committee may decide that sending off was sufficient (or otherwise that no further sanction is appropriate) in the following circumstances: (c) any of the Temporary Suspensions were awarded for so-called technical offences (including following a team warning) not involving a breach of Laws 9.11 to 9.28 inclusive. 

* YC① is accumulated

The Act and Elapsed time in match when incident occurred: 

           YC① The player made a head contact to the victim player (No.2 of KOBE S) with his head [vs KOBELCO KOBE STEELERS 10 Jan 35:00]

           YC② Intentional infringements [vs KOBELCO KOBE STEELERS 10 Jan 12:00 into the second half]

【References】
JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE “Official Match Guidelines 2025-26” (JP only)

https://league-one.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/file/menu/17338_693ba388aee09.pdf
Japan Rugby Football Union “Regulation of Sanctions for Foul Play” (JP only)
https://rugby-japan.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/file/html/169467_6560879583b90.pdf
World Rugby　Regulation17 DISCIPLINE - FOUL PLAY
https://www.world.rugby/organisation/governance/regulations/reg-17