The England rugby winger Mark Cueto has been cited for eye-gouging, potentially throwing into doubt his hopes of being involved in the Rugby World Cup in September.
Cueto has been cited by the Rugby Football Union following an incident during an English premiership match last weekend.
The charge carries a minimum ban of 12 weeks which would severely hinder Cueto's preparations ahead of the World Cup.
Northampton's New Zealand hooker Dylan Hartley missed the 2007 World Cup after he was banned for 26 weeks for a similar offence.
