Italy prop Marco Riccioni gets two-match ban after red card

Italy prop Marco Riccioni has been suspended for two club matches following an unusual red card he received while on the sidelines during his national team's heavy defeat to Australia last weekend. The disciplinary action was announced on July 22, 2026, after a review of the incident that occurred during the second half of the Nations Championship match in Perth.

The Perpignan-bound tighthead was shown a straight red card by referee Christophe Ridley in the 66th minute of Italy's 57-10 loss at HBF Park. Riccioni, who had started the match and been substituted in the 54th minute, was in his tracksuit on the touchline when a brawl spilled over from the pitch. He ran from the dugout to get involved, appearing to throw a punch during the melee. Because he was already off the field, Italy did not have to play a man down.

The tournament's Foul Play Review Committee found Riccioni guilty of "conduct contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship," a breach of Law 9.27. In a statement, the committee determined the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of a four-match suspension. That sanction was reduced to two matches after Riccioni admitted he committed an act of foul play...