London: Samoan wing Alesana Tuilagi was on Tuesday suspended for five weeks for striking a player with his knee in their Pool B game against Japan.
It means he will not be available for Samoa’s final pool fixture against Scotland on Saturday and will not be available to turn out for his Newcastle Falcons club side before November 10.
Tuilagi was cited for kneeing Harumichi Tatekawa in the second minute of the match won last weekend by Japan 26-5.
He denied foul play but, after reviewing all camera angles, the citing was upheld by judicial officer Antony Davies.
A possible ban of eight weeks was reduced to five because of Tuilagi’s “impeccable conduct during the hearing, good character and record over a long career,” said a World Rugby statement.
Meanwhile, Tuilagi’s teammate Faifili Levave has been cleared to play against Scotland despite being guilty of an act of foul play against Japan.
Though the citing against Levave was upheld, the judicial officer determined that exceptional circumstances meant that no further sanction should be imposed.
The yellow card shown to Levave for tackling a Japan player without the ball was deemed sufficient punishment, taking into account mitigating factors including his good disciplinary record.
