Independent Disciplinary Update: Vueti Tupou Decision

A citing commissioner has issued a CCW to Vueti Tupou of the SHIZUOKA BlueRevs for the match between Kubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY and SHIZUOKA BlueRevs held on 22 February.

This is to inform that in accordance with Article 34 (Judicial and Citing) of the JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE ‘Official Match Guidelines 2024-25’ 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: Vueti Tupou

Team: SHIZUOKA BlueRevs

Date of Incident: 22 February 2025

Nature of Offence: 

Law 9.11 - Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others including leading with the elbow or forearm, or jumping into, or over, a tackler.

Law 9.12 - A player must not verbally abuse anyone. Verbal abuse includes, but is not limited to, abuse based on: religion, colour, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation. 

Law 9.21 - A player must not retaliate. 

Law 9.27 - A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship.

Sanctions: Yellow Card

The Act: The player poked the victim player's (No.15 of S TOKYO-BAY) jaw with the flat of his hand 

Elapsed time in match when incident occurred: 34:00 into the 2nd half

【References】
JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE “Official Match Guidelines 2024-25” (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