Waratahs hooker cops heavy ban due to 'vulnerability of the victim'
Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu has been suspended for six matches and won’t be able to take the field in Super Rugby until round 11 after being found guilty of foul play in a ruck.
In the 79th minute of the Waratahs’ match against the Sunwolves, which NSW ended up winning 31-30, Latu could be seen charging into a maul.
Sunwolves back-rower Ed Quirk was injured badly in the incident and was taken from the ground on a stretcher. He is expected to be sidelined for eight-to-10 weeks.
The incident went unnoticed at the time and if a penalty was awarded the Sunwolves would have likely claimed their first ever victory over the Waratahs.
Latu was cited by governing body SANZAAR on Sunday and appeared for a hearing on Monday evening to answer a case for contravening Law 9.20 'Dangerous play in a ruck or maul', which states: "A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul; A player must not intentionally collapse a ruck or a maul."
Latu’s offence was deemed an act of foul play and "merited a top-end entry point of 10 weeks due to the vulnerability of the victim".
However, because Latu pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, SANZAAR’s foul play review committee reduced the suspension to six weeks.
It is a major blow for Latu and the Waratahs, whose front row is yet to assert its dominance at scrum-time from matches against the Hurricanes and Sunwolves this season.
While Latu’s suspension is for six weeks, he will have to sit on the sidelines for longer than that given the Waratahs have two byes (round three and and round nine) during that period.
Latu will be eligible for selection in the Waratahs’ round 11 match against the Sharks on April 27.
The 26-year-old’s suspension will raise questions about whether ill-discipline should affect his World Cup aspirations. Latu was yellow carded twice last year while playing for the Wallabies and has been suspended at Super Rugby level before.