Rugby-Australia will not appeal Hodge ban, says coach Cheika

Australia will not be appealing against the three-match ban handed to winger Reece Hodge for a dangerous tackle in last weekend's Rugby World Cup match against Fiji, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika told reporters on Saturday. Hodge was found guilty on Wednesday of a dangerous tackle on Fijian flanker Peceli Yato in Sapporo even though the matchday officials did not penalise him during the match.

The suspension rules Hodge out of Australia's remaining Pool D matches against Wales, Georgia and Uruguay and Cheika said on Friday they were still considering an appeal. Adam Ashley-Cooper will replace Hodge on the right wing for Australia's crunch match against Six Nations champions Wales in Tokyo on Sunday.

Hodge, Samoans Rey Lee-lo and Motu Matu'u, and American John Quill have all received three-match bans for dangerous tackles in the first week of the tournament as World Rugby cracked down on any contact with an opponent's head.