Second Fiji front-rower suspended for red card at Women’s Rugby World Cup

Advertisement

Advertise with us

EXETER, England (AP) — Fiji lost a second front-rower to suspension at the Women’s Rugby World Cup after hooker Bitila Tawake was issued a four-game ban on Tuesday.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Monthly Digital Subscription

$0 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

Monthly Digital Subscription

$4.75/week*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

No thanks

*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.

EXETER, England (AP) — Fiji lost a second front-rower to suspension at the Women’s Rugby World Cup after hooker Bitila Tawake was issued a four-game ban on Tuesday.

Tawake received a 20-minute red card for a dangerous shoulder-to-head tackle on Scotland counterpart Elis Martin on Saturday in Manchester.

A fast-track disciplinary hearing set a three-game suspension but Tawake did not accept it, prompting a full in-person hearing on Monday. That panel suspended her for four games, the fourth forfeited if she completes World Rugby’s tackle school.

Scotland's Emma Wassell and Fiji's Bitila Tawake battle for the ball during the pool B match between Scotland and Fiji, at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, in Manchester, England, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
Scotland's Emma Wassell and Fiji's Bitila Tawake battle for the ball during the pool B match between Scotland and Fiji, at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, in Manchester, England, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

But Tawake will miss Fijiana’s last pool match against Wales on Saturday in Exeter. Losing to Scotland 29-15 eliminated Fiji from quarterfinals contention.

Teammate Bulou Vasuturaga got a three-game suspension last week after her red card for a dangerous high tackle against Canada in the opening round of pool games.

Also, New Zealand lock Laura Bayfield was cleared to play. Her 20-minute red card against Japan on Sunday in Exeter was deemed sufficient penalty. Bayfield received two yellows for a deliberate knock-on and collapsing a maul.

___

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Report Error Submit a Tip

Uncategorized

LOAD MORE