Ban rules Samoa player out of World Cup opener
Samoa centre Tim Lafai will miss their World Cup opener with New Zealand after being handed a one-match ban.
Lafai, 22, was sin-binned during Samoa‘s defeat to England Knights, along with Leeds prop Brad Singleton, who has also been banned for one match.
Both players accepted the punishment handed down to them by the specially-convened International Match Review Panel.
Lafai plays in the NRL for Canterbury Bulldogs, and he will now have to wait for his first official cap for Samoa.
