PROLIFIC TWEETER ELIOTA Fuimaono-Sapolu will have to be on his best behaviour for the foreseeable future after losing his appeal against a suspended six-month ban from rugby.
The Samoan centre, who plays for Gloucester, was slapped with the ban after accusing Welsh referee Nigel Owens of being racist and acting in favour of South Africa following his country’s exit from the World Cup.
He was also told to apologise to Owens, complete 100 hours of community work in Samoa and attend a referee’s course. Failure to comply with the conditions would see the player’s ban activated by the International Rugby Board (IRB).
His case was heard in London last Sunday and included submissions from Fuimaono-Sapolu, who represented himself.
The initial decision has been upheld as a result, though the timescale to complete the refereeing course was extended to six months and work the player has completed as part of a community rugby project in Samoa already will be taken into account towards the 100 hours to be carried out.
The statement from the IRB concluded that the governing body has also noted the RFU’s decision to suspend the player for three weeks, adding it will give this ban “consideration” following the Appeal Committee’s decision.
The RFU ban relates to tweets made about rugby’s disciplinary process, the World Cup and IRB, as charges brought forward in relation to comments the centre made about Saracens’ Owen Farrell were dismissed.