Overview
- Riccioni was sent off for leaving the bench during a touchline brawl in Italy’s 57-10 loss to Australia, with match reports placing the incident in the 66th minute of the game on Saturday.
- SANZAAR’s Foul Play Review Committee found him guilty of conduct contrary to good sportsmanship and started from a four-week entry-point ban.
- The committee cut the suspension to two weeks after Riccioni admitted the offence and the panel took his past record, conduct and remorse into account.
- The two-week ban will make Riccioni miss Perpignan’s scheduled matches against Biarritz and Bath in August, affecting his early availability for the Top 14 club.
- This is the third disciplinary sanction on Italy’s tour, following coach Gonzalo Quesada’s reduced ban and Niccolò Cannone’s four-week suspension, and highlights how on-field and sideline misconduct is costing the team and its clubs short-term player availability.