The Melbourne Rebels have been dealt a major blow with Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou cited by the Judiciary after their defeat to the Brumbies.
Tupou was cited for an incident in the 65th minute of Friday's 53-17 loss in Canberra after cleaning out Darcy Swain high.
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The incident left the lock holding his neck on the ground and was unpunished during the game.
However, the Judiciary found that it meant the red card threshold and he will learn his fate in the coming days.
"Taniela Tupou of the Rebels has been cited for alleged foul play during a Super Rugby Pacific match at the weekend," the citing statement read.
"Tupou is alleged to have contravened Law 9.20: Dangerous play in a ruck or maul, during the match between the Brumbies and Rebels at GIO Stadium in Canberra on 24 May 2024.
"Upon further review of the match footage, the Citing Commissioner deemed in his opinion the incident had met the Red Card threshold for foul play."
The Wallaby was only just making his return after missing last week's defeat to the Chiefs with a concussion.
A low-range charge would likely see Tupou receive up to three weeks, ruling him out of the Rebels' maiden quarter-final.
The Rebels sit in sixth, with the Western Force's defeat to the ACT Brumbies securing their spot in the finals
Tupou was not the only player cited out of the weekend, with title contenders Blues and Hurricanes also facing a nervous wait after Adrian Choat and Raymond Tuputupu were cited.
