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The Queensland Reds have been hit with a damaging double blow as Wallabies stars Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight were both suspended for three weeks.
McDermott – the Reds co-captain – was red carded for a swinging arm to the head of Moana Pasifika’s Irie Papuni on Friday night, while flanker McReight was found guilty of a high tackle on William Havili in the same Super Rugby Pacific game.
McReight is likely to have his ban reduced to two weeks if he successfully completes World Rugby’s ‘head contact coaching intervention’ process.
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Foul play review committee chairman Stephen Hardy said McDermott’s offence was classed as “intentional and deliberate physical abuse of striking with arm to the side of the victim player’s head where the victim player was in an vulnerable position with limited ability, if any, to defend himself.”
McReight’s high tackle was described as “reckless.”
McDermott has captained Australia while McReight is viewed as a potential Wallabies captain of the future.
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Reduced to 13 men, the Reds suffered an upset 17-14 loss in Whangarei.
After a highly promising start to new coach Les Kiss’ tenure, the Reds have now lost their last three games to sit sixth on the ladder with a 3-4 record.
There are also injury concerns to lock Seru Uru and centre Josh Flook to contend with.
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”We entered the competition at this stage with the least penalties against us, no yellow cards, and suddenly – when it rains, it pours,” Kiss said on Stan Sport.
“We’ve got to be better, we have to be better.”
They host the 10th-placed Highlanders in Brisbane on Friday.
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