Fuimaono-Sapolu: Provisional suspension

Fuimaono-Sapolu faced alleged breaches of the Rugby World Cup/International Rugby Board code of conduct.

He accused Welsh referee Nigel Owens of bias after Samoa's tournament-ending defeat against world champions South Africa last Friday, venting his feelings on Twitter.

Fuimaono-Sapolu had already been warned about remarks he made on the social media network site earlier in the tournament.

But the 30-year-old did not appear at a scheduled hearing in front of appointed judicial officer, England's Judge Jeff Blackett.

Blackett adjourned the case following Fuimaono-Sapolu's no-show, and he provisionally suspended him from all participation in rugby, pending the hearing taking place.

Samoa were eliminated from the World Cup following their 13-5 loss to South Africa. Fuimaono-Sapolu's whereabouts are not known.

His club Gloucester, though, are likely to take a dim view of their player's conduct as he prepares for a return to the west country and resumption of his Aviva Premiership career.

In a statement, Rugby World Cup said: "The judicial officer determined that due to the player's failure to attend the hearing he would adjourn the case to an appropriate time when he would face the charges against him.

"Pending the holding of such hearing, he ordered that Mr Fuimaono-Sapolu be provisionally suspended from all participation in the game of rugby union.

"The Samoa Rugby Union, who were responsible for the player during the Rugby World Cup tournament, accepted the single charge of misconduct against them for failure to control Mr Fuimaono-Sapolu.

"Rugby World Cup Limited accepted that the Samoa Rugby Union had made reasonable attempts to inform the player of the misconduct charges against him.

"The question of sanction will be addressed at the same hearing as that of Mr Fuimaono-Sapolu."

Fuimaono-Sapolu questioned Owens' neutrality for the game between Samoa and South Africa, claiming that Wales stood to benefit from a Springboks victory. He also criticised Owens' performance.

Earlier in the competition it was decided the player should not face disciplinary action following a Twitter outburst after Samoa lost their crucial Pool D clash 17-10 to Wales.

He had accused the International Rugby Board of "unfair treatment" due to Samoa playing for a second time in four days while Wales had a week off after they faced South Africa.

He compared Samoa's treatment to slavery, the holocaust and apartheid before issuing an apology that World Cup chiefs accepted.