Bundee Aki handed lengthy ban after appalling red card
Following his red card against the Stormers at the weekend, Ireland and Connacht centre Bundee Aki is set to miss Ireland’s autumn international window after being handed an eight week ban.
The 32-year-old was shown red by referee Gianluca Gnecchi on 62 minutes at the Danie Craven Stadium for a shoulder charge to the head of Stormers winger Seabelo Senatla at a ruck, just ten minutes after coming onto the field as a sub.
Take a look at the challenge:
Given the way he treated the referee after being shown the red card, Judicial Officer Pamela Woodman handed the Ireland international a ten week ban. However, that was reduced, as shown in this URC statement:
“The Judicial Officer then considered if there were any mitigating factors and found that the Player’s acceptance that he had committed an act of foul play (during the off-field disciplinary process), expression of remorse, apologies to both the opposing player and referee, and willingness to engage with his club coaching staff on a plan to address this issue, were relevant mitigating factors. These mitigating factors warranted a reduction in the sanction of four weeks.
“The Player’s previous suspensions for red cards in 2019 and 2021 for foul play involving head contact, as well as his suspension and warning for previous conduct relating to interactions with referees, were considered aggravating factors, which the Judicial Officer decided warranted a further two weeks of sanction.”
If Aki completes the Head Contact Process Coaching Intervention Programme, he will have a week taken off his ban, meaning he could make a return for Ireland’s final autumn match against Australia. However, he will definitely miss fixtures against the Springboks and Fiji.
Fixtures Bundee Aki is unavailable for:
Vodacom Bulls v Connacht Rugby 30 September 2022, BKT URC
Connacht Rugby v Munster 7 October 2022, BKT URC
Connacht Rugby v Leinster 14 October 2022, BKT URC
Connacht Rugby v Scarlets 21 October 2022, BKT URC
Ospreys v Connacht Rugby 29 October 2022 BKT URC
Ireland v South Africa 5 November 2022, Autumn Nations Series
Ireland v Fiji 12 November 2022, Autumn Nations Series
Ireland v Australia 19 November 2022 Autumn Nations Series (substituted if the Player successfully completes the Head Contact Process Coaching Intervention)
