Independent Disciplinary Update: Viliami Tahitua Decision

A citing commissioner has issued a CCW to Viliami Tahitua of the SHIZUOKA BlueRevs for the match between SHIZUOKA BlueRevsand Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars held on 5 April.

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: Viliami Tahitua 

Team:SHIZUOKA BlueRevs

Date of Incident: 5 April 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 physically abuse anyone.

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

Sanctions: Yellow card 

The Act: The player pressed down the victim player(No.5 of SAGAMIHARA DB)'s head to the ground and keep holding it with his right hand unnecessarily long period of time

Elapsed time in match when incident occurred: 18:00

【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