A Third Cup player has been banned after he was cited by independent observers. Tonga full back Siua Taumalolo was suspended for 21 days by the tournament's disciplinary committee for a series of high tackles during the match against New Zealand at Bristol on Sunday. Two other players who had also been cited for punching, Samoan prop Brendan Reidy and Spanish lock Jose Miguel Villau, escaped any further action by the disciplinary committee on Tuesday.

Wales coach Graham Henry was disappointed with his player's ban and said he had seen others in worse incidents escaping unpunished. In turn, Tim Gresson, chairman of the International Rugby Board's (IRB) disciplinary committee, said he was disappointed with the high number of citings in the opening 10 games and stressed the IRB was committed to cleaning up the game.

"The IRB is determined that it is going to get rid of foul play and gratuitous violence, the IRB takes the view that there is absolutely no need for foul play," said the New Zealander. "If anything is calculated to alienate people from the game it is foul play. The IRB is very aware of mothers and boys world wide who see it and there is the potential to be turned off by gratuitous violence."