The Disciplinary Committee of the National Rugby League has decided to suspend Racing 92 second line Veikoso Poloniati for five weeks and Brive right pillar Marcel van der Merwe for three weeks.
The Disciplinary Committee of the National Rugby League had work to do during its meeting on Wednesday, with no less than eight files to manage, Top 14 and Pro D2 combined. The most emblematic concerned the second line of Racing 92 Veikoso Poloniati, who had received a red card last Sunday during the victory of his team in the derby against Stade Français for a tie on Jérémy Ward (31st), after having already received a yellow card in the 11th minute for a high tackle on Romain Briatte. The 27-year-old Tongan was given a five-week suspension. “The higher degree of the scale of gravity was retained, that is to say a suspension of ten weeks.
After taking into account the mitigating circumstances (clean disciplinary record, admission of guilt, conduct before and during the hearing, expression of remorse), the sanction was reduced by five weeks. As of March 29, 2023, and taking into account the calendar of Racing 92 meetings, the date of requalification of Mr. Semisi Veikoso POLONIATI will be determined later, taking into account in particular the calendar of meetings of the club in the final stages of the Challenge Cup”, writes the commission in its press release. Racing will therefore at least be deprived of its player who arrived last November (4 Top 14 matches played) for the round of 16 of the Challenge Cup with the Lions, and the possible quarter the following week, and for the Top 14 matches against Bordeaux-Begles and Perpignan.
Three weeks for van der Merwe
On the side of Brive, which is fighting for maintenance, we will be deprived of Marcel van der Merwe for three weeks. The right prop had been sent off for a dangerous tackle on Bibi Biziwu in the loss to Clermont on Saturday. The 32-year-old South African (20 Top 14 games this season) will therefore miss at least Friday’s trip to the Scarlets in the round of 16 of the Challenge Cup, or even the quarter the following week, and the reception of Stade Français in the Top 14.