Ligi Sao receives three-match ban following tribunal
Hull FC forward Ligi Sao has received a three-match ban following the tribunal hearing for his Grade D charge.
Sao, 29, was charged for striking during the club’s 46-18 defeat at home to Castleford in Super League.
He will miss games against Toulouse, Huddersfield and St Helens and Brett Hodgson’s side look to return to a play-off spot.
The Rugby Football League said: “Ligi Sao of Hull FC has been suspended for three matches, and fined £500, by the independent Operational Rules Tribunal after being found guilty of a Grade D charge of striking in last Friday’s Super League fixture against Castleford Tigers.”
Hull team-mate Connor Wynne also received a one-match ban and will miss this weekend’s trip to Toulouse.
Disciplinary: Seven players banned following Round 20 of Super League
Jake Mamo & Kelepi Tanginoa learn fates for appeals
Castleford Tigers centre Jake Mamo successfully appealed a one-match penalty notice after a disciplinary hearing.
Mamo was initially given the penalty notice after a charge of disputing a decision by the referee at the MKM Stadium. He was initially charged at Grade B for the offence.
The Operational Rules Tribunal found him not guilty. They accepted his plea that his actions were not aimed at referee Chris Kendall.
Meanwhile, Wakefield forward Kelepi Tanginoa was unsuccessful in his appeal against a charge of Dangerous Contact. He picked up the charge during their Golden Point defeat to St Helens on Sunday.
Tanginoa was charged with a late hit at Grade A by the Match Review Panel. He will now miss Wakefield’s match against Castleford.
The Operational Rules Tribunal upheld the charge, but found the challenge to not be frivolous. So the one-match-ban still stands, and he also has to pay a £500 fine.