Israel Folau’s wife, Maria Folau, has appealed to World Rugby to have a look at Rob Kearney’s tackle in Australia’s first Test win over Ireland in Brisbane earlier this month.
Folau received a one-match suspension from the World Rugby judiciary committee for a mid-air tackle on Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony during the tourists’ 20-16 win over the Wallabies in Sydney last weekend.
This clip shows three Folau vs POM aerial competitions from Saturday’s #AUSvIRE match.
#1: nothing in game or after
#2: post match Citing Commissioner’s Warning
#3: yellow cardThis will be an interesting hearing. pic.twitter.com/5pmQ5mSuW9
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) June 24, 2018
Folau appealed the verdict to the World Rugby appeals committee of Antony Davies of England, Beth Dickens of Scotland and Wales’ Olly Kohn who upheld the finding of the judiciary committee, which subsequently ruled the full-back out of the NSW Waratahs top of the table clash with the Melbourne Rebels on Friday.
Folau’s partner, New Zealand international netball player Maria, took to Twitter to ask World Rugby did Ireland full-back Rob Kearney’s tackle on Folau in the first Test not constitute dangerous or foul play?
https://twitter.com/MariaFolau/status/1012557409493979137
The incident is from the opening minute of the first Test in Brisbane for which Australia were awarded a penalty for the tackle.
Former Wallaby number eight Stephen Hoiles questioned what lengths the sport’s governing body would go to next to protect players from injury following Folau’s suspension.
“Hey @WorldRugby You’ve just suspended a player who won the ball back by out jumping another player who was poorly lifted by his teammate,” Hoiles wrote on Twitter in relation to Folau’s suspension.
“Well done. Should we ban scrums 2 because someone could get injured? Let’s get rid of lineouts while we’re at it because they’re also a risk.”
