Ardie Savea faces hearing after throat-cutting gesture

Sat, Mar 4, 2023
Other News (AP)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - All Blacks back-rower Ardie Savea will appear before a judicial tribunal on Monday after making a throat-cutting gesture at an opponent during a Super Rugby Pacific match.

Savea was shown a yellow card after a scuffle in a match between his visiting Hurricanes and the Melbourne Rebels on Friday. As he left the field, Savea made the gesture towards Rebels scrumhalf Ryan Louwrens.

The Hurricanes captain apologized in a post-match interview.

"Kids are watching us, we're in the heat of the moment," Savea said. "Usually that's out of character for me so I put my hand up first and I apologize for that."

A citing commissioner later determined Savea's action merited a red card.

Savea was charged with acting "against the spirit of good sportsmanship" and will appear before a foul play review committee by video link on Monday.

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