Rebels Prop Taniela Tupou Cited for Dangerous Cleanout, Faces Potential Ban
Melbourne, Australia, May 25, 2024 – In a dramatic turn of events, Rebels prop Taniela Tupou is facing an anxious wait after being cited for a high cleanout during his team’s round 14 loss against the Brumbies in the BBC Rugby Union Super Rugby Pacific competition.
The incident occurred in the 65th minute of the match, where the 28-year-old Wallaby international allegedly contravened Law 9.20 for dangerous play in a ruck or maul, injuring Brumbies lock Darcy Swain.
Despite facing no disciplinary action during the contest, the Citing Commissioner, upon further review of the match footage, deemed the incident to have met the red-card threshold for foul play. The statement reads, “Taniela Tupou of the Rebels has been cited for alleged foul play during a Super Rugby Pacific match at the weekend.”
Implications for Rebels’ Playoff Berth
The Rebels’ Super Rugby Pacific playoff berth is already secured, as they currently sit seven competition points clear of the ninth-placed Western Force. However, Tupou’s potential suspension could have significant implications for his team’s postseason campaign.
A low-range suspension would see the Wallaby prop miss the final round-robin match, the quarter-finals, and a potential semi-final, but he could return for a potential final appearance. Conversely, a longer suspension would end Tupou’s Super Rugby season entirely.
Tupou is not the only high-profile player facing judicial decisions this week, as two of his New Zealand counterparts at the Blues and Hurricanes – hooker Raymond Tuputupu and flanker Adrian Choat – are also set to learn their fate in the coming days ahead of their respective postseason campaigns.
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