Atonio will not be able to play against Scotland and England. PAUL ELLIS / AFP
The right pillar of Stade Rochelais could only return for the last match of the Tournament against Wales.
Hard blow for Uini Atonio and the XV of France. Following his dangerous tackle on the Irishman on Rob Herring which had earned him a yellow card, the pillar of La Rochelle, Uini Atonio, was suspended for three weeks by an independent disciplinary committee. “The committee applied World Rugby’s mandatory minimum entry point for playing fouls resulting in head contact. This resulted in a six week entry point suspension. Having recognized that there were no aggravating and mitigating factors, including the player’s immediate admission of guilt, his exemplary disciplinary record and his genuine remorse, the commission reduced the entry point by six weeks of three weeks, which resulted in a three-week sanction”, said the Six Nations in a press release.
He will therefore miss the next matches of the XV of France against Scotland at the Stade de France, on Sunday February 26 (4 p.m.) at the Stade de France, then 15 days later against England at Twickenham (March 11). But the Six Nations Committee specifies that he could return to Blue against Wales in Saint-Denis (March 18) if he participates in a program to raise awareness of the dangers of tackles. What the Rochelais pillar accepted.
Atonio’s suspension only applies to matches in the Tournament and not to any other matches he may play with his club. In the latter case, he would only have missed the match against the Scots and could have made his return to competition against the English.