Drua centre banned for eye gouge

Thu, Oct 5, 2017, 11:24 PM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Eroni Vasiteri has been suspended for nine weeks. Photo: Getty Images
Eroni Vasiteri has been suspended for nine weeks. Photo: Getty Images

Fijian Drua centre Eroni Vasiteri  has been suspended for nine weeks for eye gouging.

Vasiteri and teammate Apisalome Waqatabu fronted the NRC judiciary on Thursday night, accused of making contact with the eye of Canberra Vikings hooker Folau Faingaa.

The Vikings rake reacted immediately during the game, after feeling the contact in a ruck.


Waqatabu was cleared of any foul play, free to play against the Greater Sydney Rams.

Vasiteri's offence had an entry poitn of 12 weeks but a clean disciplinary record reduced that to nine weeks, ruling him out of rugby until December 3, 2017.

This suspension comes just days after a similar incident in the UK, with England prop Kyle Sinckler copping a seven-week ban in the Premiership for eye gouging.

Share
South Africa's two-time World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi will return to the Stormers in July 2026. Photo: Getty Images
Springbok captain Kolisi to rejoin Stormers
Five key talking points for the Queensland Reds heading into Super Rugby Pacific 2026
Former Wallaby winger Marika Koroibete got the party started as Saitama Wild Knights beat Urayasu D-Rocks. Photo: Getty Images
Oh what a knight: Koroibete helps Saitama to Japan win
Queensland and Australia U18s star Treyvon Pritchard was named player of the tournament at the Global Youth 7s
Australia U18 Boys claim silver at Global Youth 7s