Tui Cops Ban
Fiji Bati vice-captain Erevonu Tuicaumatalevu "Tui" Kamikamica will miss his team's final Group B game against Scotland in Newcastle this Saturday.
Wednesday 26 October 2022 | 10:30
Vodafone Fiji Bati vice-captain Tui Kamikamica on attack during their match against Italy at Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, on October 23, 2022. He will miss their third pool game against Scotland. Photo: FNRL/Steve Mower.
Fiji Bati vice-captain Erevonu Tuicaumatalevu "Tui" Kamikamica will miss his team's final Group B game against Scotland in Newcastle this Saturday.
Commonly known as Tui Kamikamica, the national forward has been banned for a match in this year's Rugby League World Cup.
According to rlwc2021.com, Kamikamica was given a one-match penalty notice on Monday for a dangerous contact charge during their 60-4 win over Italy last weekend.
Kamikamica had until 11am on Tuesday (11pm last night Fiji time) to accept the notice or face a disciplinary hearing later in the day.
Fellow Bati Taniela Sadrugu was penalised for a late tackle on Italy captain Nathan Brown in the 30th minute did not attract further interest of the RLWC judiciary despite the incident not being placed on report in game.
The other NRL player banned for a match is Gold Coast Titans' Ireland front-rower Jaimin Jolliffe.
Jolliffe was given a one-match penalty notice for a high tackle during their 32-14 defeat by Lebanon.
Jolliffe will miss their Friday World Cup Group C match against New Zealand at Headingley.
Rabbitohs' England prop Tom Burgess avoided any further punishment for his sin binning in the final minute of his team's 42- 18 win over France on Saturday.
Following their ten tries win over Italy on Sunday and now a slap on the face due to Kamikamica's one match suspension the Fijian Bati must regroup for more glimpses of brilliance on the paddock.
Their 60-4 win against Italy is Fiji's biggest victory since downing Wales 72-6 back in 2017.
In the match Fiji had just 10 tackle breaks and 3 offloads in their Round 1 game (lost to Australia 8-42) the fewest of any nation - but made up for that in Round 2 with 40 tackle breaks and 14 offloads in the first half alone.
Fiji's first half dominance was shown in the stats, with the Bati recording close to triple the running metres (1295 to 537) of Italy in the first half while producing just three in complete sets to Italy's five.
The Bati have made the semi-finals in each of the past three World Cups and are on track to progress through to the knockout rounds once again should they triumph against Scotland in their final pool match next week.
Scotland has lost to Australia and Italy, 0-84 and 4-28 respectively.
Other results:
Samoa won 72-4 against Greece on Monday, while Tonga beat Wales, 32-6, yesterday to book their quarterfinal spot. Ireland lost 32-14 to Lebanon.
Papua New Guinea and Cook Islands played at 6:30am today.
Story by: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj
