Independent Disciplinary Update: Sam Phillip Jeffries Decision

Sam Phillip Jeffries of the TOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH has been suspended for five weeks due to the foul play during the match between TOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH and YOKOHAMA CANON EAGLES held on 22 February 2026.

TOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH lodged an appeal against the original decision, and a re-examination was conducted.

In accordance with Article 34 of the Japan Rugby League One 2025–26 Season Official Competition Regulations and the Japan Rugby Football Union’s ‘Regulations Concerning Sanctions for Unfair Play’, a hearing was held by the Appeals Committee. We hereby announce that the sanction has been amended as follows.

■ Updated decision

Sanctions: 3 weeks (matches) suspension

■ The decision before change (As of 26 February)

Player: Sam Phillip Jeffries

Team: TOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH   

Date of Incident: 22 February 2026

Nature of Offence: Law 9.18 –  A player must not lift an opponent off the ground and drop or drive that player so that their head and/or upper body make contact with the ground.  

Sanctions: 5 weeks (matches) Suspension (Rd 7,10 -13)

The Act: The player in question of lifting Yokohama’s No. 7 off the ground and dropping him so that he fell headfirst onto the ground

Elapsed time in match when incident occurred: 02:00 into the 2nd half