Cannone handed four-match ban after red card in Italy's heavy loss to All Blacks

Italy lock Niccolò Cannone has been banned for four matches by the Nations Championship Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) following his red card in Italy’s 47-17 defeat to New Zealand in Wellington during round two of the inaugural competition.

Cannone was initially shown a yellow card by referee Luc Ramos in the 52nd minute after making contact with All Blacks halfback Cameron Roigard’s head at a ruck. The TMO and foul play review officer subsequently upgraded the offence to a 20-minute red card.

The FPRC determined the incident merited a low-end entry point of six weeks. That sanction was then reduced by two weeks in light of Cannone’s acceptance of the foul play charge and mitigating factors.

“In light of Cannone’s acceptance that he committed an act of foul play worthy of ordering off, as well as mitigating factors such as his disciplinary record, conduct, and remorse, the FPRC applied a 2-week reduction to the sanction,” the Nations Championship announced.

The four-match suspension begins this weekend in Perth, with the remainder carried over into the club season at Benetton. Fiji halfback Simione Kuruvoli also received a red card during the same round of fixtures, though the outcome of his hearing was not detailed in the FPRC’s announcement.