Tuesday 19 December 2017 22:20, UK
Leicester Tigers centre Manu Tuilagi is facing a disciplinary hearing after being cited for a dangerous tackle in his first game since September.
The England centre returned from a knee injury in the European Champions Cup clash with Munster on Sunday but was unable to inspire the Tigers as they fell to a 25-16 defeat at Welford Road.
But the 26-year-old could now find himself sidelined again as he faces a possible ban over a tackle on Munster's Chris Cloete in the 49th minute which is alleged to have contravened Law 10.4(e).
Tuilagi will have to answer the complaint before a three-person independent disciplinary committee in London on Wednesday.
Ireland prop Cian Healy is also facing a citing complaint over an incident during Leinster's Champions Cup 22-17 win over the Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.
Healy was shown a yellow card by referee Pascal Gauzere in the 17th minute at the Aviva Stadium and has been charged with a contravention of Law 10.4(h) that he struck the head of Exeter's Luke Cowan-Dickie with his forearm.
Chiefs lock Mitch Lees has been charged with striking Healy with his head just before half-time of the same game and both will face hearings on Wednesday in London.
And Racing 92 full-back Juan Imhoff also faces action after his dismissal for an alleged strike to the head of Castres scrum-half Rory Kockott in the all-French European Champions Cup clash on Saturday.
Tuilagi's citing for a dangerous tackle on Champions Cup duty compelled his former British and Irish Lions team-mate Brian O'Driscoll to criticise the decision.
"I think the game has gone soft if we're picking up on marginal collisions like the Manu Tuilagi tackle he's been cited for," former Ireland captain O'Driscoll said on Twitter.
