Seremaia Burotu red carded for huge tackle against Samoa

You saw the highlights of the final of the fantastic Wellington Sevens yesterday, so heres another clip from the tournament, this time of a huge hit that unfortunately ended in a red card for Fijis Seremaia Burotu.

Fiji and Samoa met in the Cup quarter final, with Samoa coming out 12-5 eventual winners, helped in some respects by the sending off of Burotu, their leading try scorer.

The hit on Afa Aiono, who had actually scored both of Samoas first half tries, went wrong after initially being a good, solid tackle. The lifting and tipping motion ended things for him though, with referee Stuart Berry having little option but to red card the Fijian vice captain.

He missed the subsequent plate semifinal and final, and picked up a three match suspension when later sitting through a disciplinary hearing. That was reduced to two after an appeal, and the fact that hes missed the two games already means that hes free to appear at this weekends Las Vegas Sevens, the USA leg of the World Series.

“The 7s team management sat with the International Rugby Board Judicial where he was dished a two-match ban. This, he has already served so he should be able to play this weekend,” said Fijian staff member Talemo Waqa.

Unfortunately this type of hit is dangerous and while initially it was an impressive show of timing, technique, and strength, you just can’t get away with that these days.

Time:

01:44