Ben Tameifuna cops lengthy ban for high shot

Racing 92 prop Ben Tameifuna has received a four week ban in France after a dangerous tackle in his latest Top 14 outing.

The judiciary wasn’t easy on the former Chief who will be sidelined until February 25.

It’s an untimely blow for Tameifuna’s side who currently sit sixth on the Top 14 table with the playoff race heating up. Tameifuna will also be unavailable for Racing’s next European Champions Cup match against Scarlets – their final pool match of the competition.

Tameifuna was shown a yellow card in the 71st minute of Racing’s 22-13 win over Toulon last weekend after a big hit on longtime France flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc.

Trinh-Duc required treatment on the pitch from team medics before Tameifuna was sent off.

Both French media and fans on social media felt that Tameifuna’s tackle was worthy of a red card for his tackle on Trinh-Duc – who is just over half the weight of the 153kg prop at 85kg. Tameifuna’s disciplinary record saw the ban reduced by from six weeks to four, and his offence was classed as ‘average’ in a release.

Ben Tameifuna has been suspended for a month for his dangerous tackle on FTD. Good decision. #RCT

— Sean (@seanb0y) January 16, 2019

https://twitter.com/IlltudDafydd/status/1081667754816610305

Tameifuna, a Tongan international, has been with Racing since 2015 having previously represented Hawke’s Bay, Waikato and the Chiefs.

He played 65 games for the Chiefs after making his debut in 2012, when he was also called into the All Blacks‘ training squad.

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