Sione Kalamafoni: Scarlets number eight escapes ban after red card against Cardiff

Scarlets number eight Sione Kalamafoni walks off after being shown a red card against Cardiff

Scarlets number eight Sione Kalamafoni will not serve a suspension after being sent off against Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Kalamafoni was shown a red card for a high tackle on Cardiff replacement Gwilym Bradley early in the second half of the 35-20 win in Llanelli.

A URC disciplinary panel decided the red card was sufficient punishment.

Kalamafoni is therefore available for the return fixture in Cardiff on 9 April.

The disciplinary panel of Sibonile Khoza (South Africa), Achille Reali (Italy) and Rose-Alice Murphy (Ireland) agreed with the decision of the referee to issue a red card.

They found though there was enough to warrant mitigation with indirect contact to the head, actions by a second tackler and a drop in height by the ball carrier.

Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young admits he was surprised by the verdict.

"I don't want to make a thing about him being available to play but I'm amazed there's no ban at all, if I'm totally honest," said Young.

"If you look at Rey (Lee-Lo), he copped a four-week ban early on in the season.

"All you want as a director of rugby is consistency and I get there are always mitigating factors, but if I'm reading it right the hearing upheld the red card but they felt that was sufficient.

"That doesn't really fall into line with everything else that has happened.

"Most of the red cards that happen are unintentional, most of them are by players who are not dirty.

"Kalamafoni is not a dirty player and he hasn't gone out to hurt Gwilym.

"But a red card normally carries a ban, so I'm surprised and it looks like there is a lack of consistency in these decisions.

"I'm glad he hasn't had a three or four-week ban because that's harsh but we've had them this year. I'm surprised he's had nothing."