Independent Disciplinary Update: Epineri Uluiviti Decision

A citing commissioner has issued a CCW to Epineri Uluiviti of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars for the match between YOKOHAMA CANON EAGLES and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars held on 3 May. The player has accumulated a total of three sanctions, consisting of one Citing Commissioner Warning (hereinafter referred to as "CCW") and two Yellow Cards (YCs).  

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:  Epineri Uluiviti

Team: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars

Nature of Offence:

・Yellow Card ①：Law 9.8 (28/12/2025 vs SAITAMA WK)

The Act: Repeated Infringement

・Yellow Card ②：Law 9.13 (24/1/2026 vs BR TOKYO)

The Act: The player made a high-tackle to the No. 15 of BR TOKYO

・CCW：Law 9.11,9.12,9.27 (3/5/2026 vs YOKOHAMA CANON EAGLES)

The Act: The player knocking Yokohama E No. 22 to the ground and then pushing the player's head away with his left hand. 

Sanctions: No additional Sanctions

* Cumulative yellow card remains (YC② and CCW)

* Appendix A. Player receives three Temporary Suspensions and/or Citing Commissioner Warnings in a Tournament/Series or five in a Sevens Series 

2. The Judicial Officer or Judicial Committee may, however, decide to apply no sanction in the following circumstances: 

(b)    exceptional circumstances exist which would warrant no sanction being imposed. This situation could arise when: 

(ii)     some of the Temporary Suspensions were awarded for technical offences (that is, not Foul Play) following a team warning by the referee or for what are characterised as so-called technical offences not involving a breach of Laws 9.11 to 9.28 inclusive. 

【References】
JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE “Official Match Guidelines 2025-26” (JP only)
https://league-one.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/file/menu/11248_6724a704ea4a2.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