USA hooker cleared to play Australia

James Gordon

USA hooker Haveatama Luani has been cleared to play in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Australia after successfully appealing a one-match ban.

Luani, 21, won his appeal after Tomahawks coach Terry Matterson demonstrated that Luani played a minimal role in a three-man tackle on Scotland‘s Peter Wallace in the closing stages of their defeat to the Bravehearts last Thursday.

He was placed on report in the 78th minute of the match, and was initially charged with a Grade A dangerous throw and handed the ban.

Scotland‘s Dale Ferguson and Korbin Sims of Fiji were both unsuccessful in their appeals against two-match bans, and will miss their side’s respective quarter-finals, and the semi-finals should they make it through.

Ferguson was charged for making a Grade B dangerous contact with a USA player, while Sims was cited for a Grade B dangerous throw on James Graham during Fiji‘s defeat to England.