Three staff from Tonga's rugby league team face a potential two year ban from NRL and Australian Rugby League Commission competition, in the wake of the serious head injury to Eliesa Katoa.
25-year-old Katoa underwent brain surgery after suffering multiple blows to the head during Tonga's Pacific Championships match against New Zealand on November 2.
Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season but is aiming to return to the game.
The NRL has investigated the incident and "identified a number of serious concerns regarding possible breaches of the NRL rules and protocols by a number of individuals in the way that Mr Katoa was treated".
These concerns relate to a possible breakdown in communication between responsible medical and health professionals in relation to the safety of Katoa, including through a failure to share and disclose information that was vital to the health of the player.
The head doctor, assistant doctor and head trainer have each been issued a breach notice stating their proposed penalties: "prohibition from being concerned, whether directly or indirectly, with any club, team or player in the NRL competitions, representative competitions or any other competition conducted under the auspices of the NRL or ARLC for a period of 24 months".
The medical assistant has been issued with a formal warning.
