Fijiana flanker Bulou Vasuturaga has been suspended

Fijiana flanker Bulou Vasuturaga has been suspended for three matches and Melina Grace Salale will face a disciplinary committee today after a Foul Play Review Committee considered their respective red cards issued during Women's Rugby World Cup 2025.

An Independent Foul Play Review Committee has convened to consider sanctions for Melina Grace Salale and Bulou Vasuturaga as a result of red cards issued during the Samoa v Australia and Canada v Fiji Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 matches on Saturday.

The FPRC chaired by Adam Casselden , and joined by former players Jamie Corsi and Stefan Terblanche met on Sunday, 24 August 2025 to consider both players’ cases.

Vasuturaga has been suspended for three matches, reduced to two on successful completion of the Coaching Intervention, after the Foul Play Review Committee reviewed the red card received for a Law 9.13 offence (dangerous tackle) during Fiji's match against Canada at York Community Stadium, York on 23 August 2025. The sanction was accepted by the player.

In accordance with the remit of the expedited off-field sanction process trial, sanctions are proposed in line with Appendix 1 of Regulation 17.

In determining the sanction for Vasuturaga, the FPRC noted the player accepted that foul play occurred, but did not accept that the offence warranted a red card.

The committee reviewed the matter, including all submissions and footage, and determined that Vasuturaga's actions were contrary to Law 9.13 (dangerous tackle) and that her actions were reckless and that there was direct contact by the Player’s right shoulder to the victim player’s head with a high degree of force.

The FPRC found that these facts amounted to a high degree of danger and therefore that the red card was warranted.

On the basis of all the evidence before them, the committee decided that the offending warranted the mandatory mid-range entry point of six matches.

The committee decided to award full 50 percent mitigation resulting in a final sanction of three matches. This will be reduced to two on successful completion of the Coaching Intervention.

Vasuturaga is therefore suspended for the remainder of Fiji's Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 pool matches.