Independent Disciplinary Update: Taleni Seu Decision

A red card was issued to Taleni Seu of the Toyota Industries Corporation Shuttles Aichi by a referee at the match between NEC GREEN ROCKETS TOKATSU and Toyota Industries Corporation Shuttles Aichi 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: Taleni Seu 

Team: Toyota Industries Corporation Shuttles Aichi

Date of Incident: 10 January 2026

Nature of Offence: 

Law 9.20(a) Dangerous play in a ruck or maul; A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul.

Sanctions: 5 week (match) Suspension (Round 4-8)

The Act: The player made contact by dropping their body weight onto their left shoulder instead of binding, striking the head of the GR Tokatsu No. 7 player inside the ruck.

Elapsed time in match when incident occurred: 12:00 into the 2nd 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