Wellington, March 06, 2024, The Europe Today: In a significant blow to the Wellington Hurricanes, All Blacks midfielder Jordie Barrett has been handed a three-week suspension by the Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) after receiving a red card for a high tackle during his 100th match for the team over the weekend.
The incident occurred during the Hurricanes’ thrilling 38-33 victory over the Queensland Reds in a Super Rugby Pacific match in Melbourne. Barrett, serving as the Hurricanes’ vice-captain, was sent off early in the second half for a high tackle that made contact with Jordan Petaia’s head.
As a result of the suspension, Barrett will miss the upcoming crucial matches, including the home game against the unbeaten Auckland Blues this Saturday. He will also be sidelined for subsequent fixtures against the Canterbury Crusaders and the Melbourne Rebels before becoming eligible to return to play.
The FPRC, in its judgment on Wednesday, stated, “The act of foul play was always-illegal. In those circumstances, no mitigation was applied.” This decision reflects the committee’s stance on the severity of the incident, emphasizing the consistent application of rules regarding foul play.
Despite Barrett’s suspension, the Hurricanes currently hold the second position on the Super Rugby Pacific table, just behind the Waikato Chiefs, after securing victories in their opening two matches. The absence of the influential midfielder poses a challenge for the Hurricanes as they aim to maintain their momentum in the upcoming rounds of the competition.
