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Aki out of World Cup after Ireland decide not to appeal ban

Rugby, Sport | | | By Reuters Reuters

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Rugby Union – Rugby World Cup 2019 – Pool A – Ireland v Samoa – Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka, Japan – October 12, 2019. Ireland’s Bundee Aki sits on the bench after being sent off REUTERS/Peter Cziborra

(Reuters) – Ireland centre Bundee Aki will miss the rest of the Rugby World Cup after team management said on Thursday they will not appeal the three-match ban he received for a high tackle in their final Pool A game against Samoa.

Aki was shown a red card for the tackle on flyhalf Ulupano Seuteni on Saturday and was later banned for three games by an independent judicial committee.

He will miss Ireland’s quarter-final against defending champions New Zealand on Saturday as well as the semi-finals and the final should his team progress.

“The Ireland management will not appeal the sanction handed down to Bundee Aki,” Irish Rugby said in a statement on its website on Thursday.

“We are disappointed with the outcome and believe that Bundee’s time will be best served helping prepare the squad for its remaining World Cup fixtures.”

If Ireland are knocked out before the final, the 29-year-old will serve the remainder of his ban with club side Connacht Rugby in the Pro14.

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