Retired star must face judiciary after bizarre scenes in final match
Wallaroos great Cecilia Smith will have to front up to World Rugby’s foul play review committee despite now being retired from the international game.
The Australia centre was sent off after receiving two yellow cards for dangerous tackles during Friday’s 38-31 WXV Global Series win over Scotland.
Emily Chancellor and Cecilia Smith of the Wallaroos react. Getty Images
It resulted in the odd scene of Smith getting a standing ovation from the GIO Stadium crowd in Canberra as she trudged off after copping the red card.
World Rugby on Monday then announced she had been cited despite Smith announcing her international retirement before the game.
The 32-year-old Western Force star has not yet decided whether she will carry on playing Super Rugby Women’s next year.
“I’m really sorry about that, just wanted to go out with a bang, I guess,” Smith said of the red card after the match.
The physical Test also featured unsubstantiated allegations of biting from Smith’s midfield partner Georgina Friedrichs.
It was also the last Test for Wallaroos flanker Emily Chancellor.
“It’s created so much opportunity for me, so much purpose in my life. I love these girls and what we play for,” she said of her rugby career.
“I love what this game has given us: travel the world with great people and create opportunity. You can’t be what you can’t see.”
Australia A centre David Feliuai was also cited following his red card in Sunday’s (AEDT) 61-12 win over the United States in Nashville.
Watch the Wallabies in action in November’s Nations Championship. Add the Stan Sport package to watch rugby live and on demand with no ad-breaks in play