SAMOA winger Alesana Tuilagi has received some powerful backing after he was issued with a five-week ban that will keep him out of Saturday’s World Cup game with Scotland and the first four matches of Newcastle Falcons’ Aviva Premiership campaign.

Tuilagi was found guilty of serious foul play after he struck Japan’s Harumichi Tatekawa with his knee in the second minute of last weekend’s Pool B game in Milton Keynes, which Samoa lost 26-5.

He will miss out on the chance to appear at St James’ Park when Samoa face Scotland on Saturday, and will also be forced to sit out Newcastle’s domestic matches with Gloucester, Northampton, Exeter and Worcester.

A World Rugby statement said: “Tuilagi denied the act of foul play. Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles, medical evidence, evidence from the player and submissions from his legal representatives, the judicial officer Antony Davies upheld the citing on the basis that the player had committed the act of foul play.”

However, the decision to ban Tuilagi for five weeks has provoked a furious reaction from a number of high-profile figures, who all feel the governing body has overreacted.

Tuilagi did little more than run into Tatekawa, who already appeared to be heading towards the floor before any contact was made.

Former England captain Lewis Moody tweeted: “I’m appalled Alesana has been banned for 5 weeks. How is running into an opponent an act of foul play. Should we play walking rugby now!!!”

Former Wales flanker Martyn Williams added: “Crazy decision, seriously think by the time we get to the 2023 World Cup it will be a Tag rugby tournament.”