Friday 13 January 2017 16:20, UK
Sale are being investigated over a possible breach of concussion management protocol, the RFU has announced.
A panel will meet to examine a 30th-minute incident in the Sharks' 29-26 Aviva Premiership defeat at Harlequins last Saturday in which back row TJ Ioane appeared to be concussed but remained on the pitch and completed the match.
The Samoa international took a blow to the head while tackling Harlequins hooker Dave Ward at Twickenham Stoop, but groggily returned to his feet and resumed play without receiving any medical treatment.
The incident was not picked up by the member of the Sharks' medical team appointed to look for instances of concussion during the match, with the assistance of TV replays.
"A concussion management review group panel will convene to examine an incident in the 30th minute of the match between Harlequins and Sale on January 7, involving Sale player TJ Ioane," an RFU statement read.
"The RFU and Premiership Rugby have appointed Dr Julian Morris to be the independent chairman and will be joined by the RFU's director of professional rugby Nigel Melville and Phil Winstanley, the rugby director at Premiership Rugby.
"A joint RFU/Premiership Rugby update will be provided in seven days and until that time no further comment will be made."
The investigation comes less than a month after Northampton were the subject of a probe into the handling of George North's latest blow to the head.
Sale face Toulon away in the European Champions Cup on Sunday before entertaining Welsh side Scarlets in the same competition the following weekend.
Watch Sale v Scarlets on Saturday January 21. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 2 at 3pm.
