Samoa second-row Kane Thompson has been ruled out of his side's Rugby World Cup opener after incurring a two-match ban.
The 33-year-old was shown a red card during Samoa's match against the Barbarians at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday having struck Saia Fainga'a.
His fate was decided at an independent hearing in London earlier today, and it was ruled that he would be suspended for two matches as a result of his indiscretion.
The New Zealand-born Newcastle Falcons man will now miss Samoa's final World Cup warm-up match against Wasps this weekend in addition to their first game of the competition itself, which comes against USA in Brighton on September 20.
Samoa also find themselves in a group alongside South Africa, Scotland and Japan.
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Barney Corkhill
