Fiji star learns fate after ‘deliberate’ attack on ‘vulnerable’ Australian forward in Super Rugby Pacific clash

Colin Newboult
Frank Lomani in action for Fijian Drua in 2024.

Frank Lomani in action for Fijian Drua in 2024.

Fijian Drua’s Frank Lomani will miss the next six games after receiving a six-week ban for elbowing the defenceless Josh Canham.

The scrum-half was sent off in the second half of their clash with the Rebels at the weekend for lashing out at the second-row.

Lomani elbowed the Australian lock in the back of the head, resulting in Canham needing to be bandaged up after the Fijian’s actions left him bleeding from a wound.

‘Deliberate physical abuse’

The judicial committee came in at the top-end range of 10 weeks for “deliberate physical abuse of striking with an elbow to the back of the victim player’s head and causing injury.”

Foul play review committee (FPRC) chairman Stephen Hardy also ruled: “The victim player was in an incredibly vulnerable position with limited ability, if any, to defend himself.”

Despite the severity of the act, Lomani was still allowed mitigation which almost halved his suspension down to six weeks.

“The Player was given a discount for entering an early guilty plea (and other relevant mitigating factors). The player is therefore suspended up to and including 26 May 2024,” Hardy added.

“In providing the Player the Sanction, the Foul Play Review Committee emphasised that this sort of incident is not tolerated in any form of the game.”

As a result of the ban, the scrum-half will miss the Drua’s next six Super Rugby Pacific matches with his return match ironically scheduled to be the reverse fixture against the Rebels on June 1.

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Team-mate also sanctioned

Lomani has been joined on the sidelines by Drua team-mate Jone Koroiduadua, who has been suspended for two weeks following his headbutt.

Koroiduadua was also sent off during the game but his act was deemed less severe given that “limited contact” was made with the head of Rebels’ Alex Mafi.

The prop came in at a low-end point of six weeks, but that was reduced to three when mitigation was applied.

FPRC chairman Stephen Hardy ruled that he “made contact with the chest area of the victim player. There was also no injury to the victim player.

“The Foul Play Review Committed emphasised that had there been more forceful head contact made, the entry point may well have been higher than low-end.”

Interestingly, a further week was then taken off Koroiduadua’s ban as the act was deemed to be “wholly disproportionate to the level and type of offending involved,” which means that more than 50 per cent mitigation can apply.

Meanwhile, tournament organisers are still investigating the alleged racist abuse of Lomani by a Rebels supporters.

The fan was accused of calling the scrum-half a “black c**t” after the red card incident, with the alleged perpetrator being ejected from the stadium as a result.

READ MORE: Super Rugby Pacific boss slams alleged racial abuse and demands life ban

Fiji Frank Lomani Jone Koroiduadua

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