Vaki gets three weeks for tackle
Wednesday November 22 2006
Committee took into account the player's previous good recordPacific Islanders' flank Viliami Vaki was suspended for three weeks on Wednesday for a dangerous tackle on Scotland scrum-half Chris Cusiter.
Vaki floored Cusiter during Scotland's 34-21 win at Edinburgh last Saturday and the British and Irish Lions player had to be carried off the field with a dislocated shoulder and torn ligaments.
He subsequently underwent surgery on the shoulder and has been ruled out of action for the rest of the season, wrecking his hopes of playing in the Six Nations tournament.
The Tongan, who plays his club rugby for Perpignan in France, was cited by the match commissioner and a disciplinary committee hearing suspended him for three weeks.
The committee said it had taken into account the player's previous good record and his expressions of remorse for having caused the injury.
The Pacific Islanders, a representative side from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, complete their trip with a match against Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Sunday, having lost their tour opener against Wales 38-20 earlier this month.