Jared Waerea-Hargreaves set to miss quarter-final through suspension

Drew Darbyshire
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves New Zealand SWpix

Photo: Alex Whitehead/www.photosport.nz

New Zealand prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is set to miss their quarter-final clash with Fiji on Saturday after receiving a one-match ban.

The Kiwis veteran, fresh from serving a three-match ban carried over from the NRL, was sin-binned in the first half of their 48-10 win over Ireland for a high tackle on Dan Norman. The Irish debutant then failed a head injury assessment and could not return to the field.

The RLWC2021 match review panel have given Waerea-Hargreaves a one-match penalty notice for his high tackle. He could miss Saturday’s quarter-final against Fiji in Hull.

Elsewhere, the panel have issued Scotland forward James Bell with a one-match ban for dangerous contact in their 30-14 defeat to Fiji. Bell could serve the ban in one of St Helens’ pre-season friendlies. The Bravehearts bowed out of the World Cup after failing to win a game in the groups.

The deadline for Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Bell to appeal their suspensions is 11am on Monday, October 31.

New Zealand half-back Jahrome Hughes and Lebanon forward Jaxson Rahme received cautions for other contrary behaviour and dangerous contact respectively. The pair will not face any further punishment.

Paul Cullen, Phil Veivers, Jerome Guisset, Nathan McAvoy, Phil Bentham and Steve Clark were members on this week’s match review panel.

In the World Cup quarter-finals, Australia face Lebanon in Huddersfield on Friday. On Saturday, England play the runner-up of Group D in Wigan before New Zealand take on Fiji in Hull. Warrington will host a Pacific Island clash between Samoa and Tonga on Sunday afternoon.

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