New Zealand vs France: Ofa Tu'ungafasi escapes ban as high tackle on Remy Grosso was 'just short of' a red card

World Rugby has explained why the All Blacks prop - and teammate Sam Cane - have not face any further action beyond a citing commissioner's warning

Ofa Tu'ungafasi has escaped a ban for his high tackle on France wing Remy Grosso (Getty)

New Zealand prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi will not face any further action for his high tackle on Remy Grosso after World Rugby announced it fell “just short of” a red card offence, despite the France Rugby wing being hit with two shots to the face in the space of second that has left him with a double facial fracture and unable to fly home.

The fallout from the All Blacks’ 52-11 victory in Saturday’s first Test has surrounded the unsavoury incident between Grosso, Tu’ungafasi and New Zealand flanker Sam Cane, who initially caught Grosso’s jaw with his arm before Tu’ungafasi’s shoulder hit him in the face.

Grosso remains in hospital in Auckland with doctors concerned about the effects of flying home to France on his skull fractures, with the cabin pressure inside an aeroplane having the potential to cause dangerous swelling.

But after what has been a confusing 72 hours, World Rugby have finally issued a statement to confirm that neither All Blacks will be suspended for this Saturday’s second Test, with Tu’ungafasi receiving a citing commissioner warning as it was deemed that his tackle warranted a yellow card, while Cane’s shot was worthy on only a penalty.

“Ofa Tu’ungafasi (New Zealand) has received a citing commissioner warning from independent citing commissioner Free Burger (South Africa) for a breach of Law 9.13 during the 59th minute of the New Zealand vs France match at Eden Park on Saturday 9 June,” a World Rugby statement read.

“Having reviewed all available camera angler, the citing commissioner considered Ofa Tu’ungafasi to have executed a dangerous tackle “just short of” red card level (in accordance with World Rugby Regulation 17), which caused injury to France winger Remy Grosso.”

Part of the citing commissioner’s decision not to upgrade the offence to a red card threshold was that Cane’s tackle – and Grosso’s preparation for the hit – saw the wing dip into contact that contributed to Tu’ungafasi making contact with his shoulder to Grosso’s face.

“In considering the mechanics of the incident, the citing commissioner determined that there were mitigating factors which prevented the conduct from reaching the red card level in his opinion,” the statement added.

“These included Remy Grosso’s body position lowering as he went into contact with Sam Cane, who effected the tackle initially, immediately before Ofa Tu’ungafasi joined a dynamic tackle situation.

Sam Cane hit Remy Grosso with a swinging arm to the jaw (Sky Sports)

“As a result, the independent citing commissioner issued a citing commissioner warning – issued for acts of foul play that are viewed by the citing commissioner to come close to but not warrant the player receiving a red card.

“In respect of the tackle by Sam Cane, the citing commissioner agreed with the on-field action taken by the referee to award a penalty against him, and therefore no further action was warranted in relation to Sam Cane.”

Ofa Tu'ungafasi then hit Grosso in the head with his shoulder (Sky Sports)

The decision is likely to anger the French camp ahead of this weekend’s encounter in Wellington, with head coach Jacques Brunel openly criticising the decision not to implement a harsher punishment during the match. Video footage of the incident was also widely shared on social media, with World Rugby vice-chairman Agustin Pichot expressing his belief that it merited a citing.

Brunel said immediately after the match: "I think that the way he was done by the All Blacks pair was illegal."

The decision not to take further action also raises confusion over how high tackles are being judged, given that similar tackles in the past have led to cards being produced or subsequent suspensions – most notably when fellow All Black Sonny Bill Williams was shown a straight red card in last year’s second Test against the British and Irish Lions for a similar shoulder-led tackle and banned for four weeks.