Fuimaono suspended from rugby

Manu Samoa centre Eliota Sapolu Fuimaono has been suspended from all rugby matches after he failed to appear at a judicial hearing in Auckland after he criticized Welsh referee Nigel Owens on social networking website Twitter.

Sapolu Fuimaono called Owens biased and racist after his side’s 13-5 World Cup loss to South Africa last week and was ordered to appear at the hearing.

The International Rugby Board said the hearing was adjourned when the player failed to appear and he has been provisionally suspended until he faces the charges.

Sapolu Fuimaono, who plays for English club Gloucester said in his message last week that he was retiring from international rugby after Samoa failed to qualify for the quarter-finals.

In the quarterfinals this weekend, Ireland will play Wales in Wellington on Saturday at 5pm. France will play England at Eden Park on Saturday at 7.30pm.

Australia will play South Africa in Wellington on Sunday at 5pm and the All Blacks will face Argentina at Eden Park on Sunday night at 7.30.

You can catch the live commentaries of both games - the All Blacks/Argentina and South Africa/Australia game on Sunday, on our sister station, Viti FM with the voice of rugby, Malakai Veisamasama and expert comments from Ilivasi Tabua.


Story by: Dreu Vukailagi