Wednesday 4 October 2017 06:31, UK
England and Harlequins prop Kyle Sinckler chances of participation in the Autumn internationals look to have been dashed after he was banned for seven weeks after appearing before an RFU disciplinary panel.
Sinckler was cited by Independent Citing Commissioner Chris Catling for allegedly making contact with the eye and/or eye area of Northampton Saints' Michael Paterson during a match on September 30 2017.
Sinckler accepted the charge and will not be free to play again until November 21, although he was left out of the recent 33-man squad named by Eddie Jones for a three-day training camp in Oxford.
England face Argentina, Australia and Samoa live on Sky Sports on successive Saturdays from November 11.
An RFU spokesman said: "The panel heard evidence from the player as to his actions. They found that it was an intentional action but that due to the absence of injury it merited a low-end entry point.
"The player has not got a clear record because of a suspension in 2015 and so the panel could not give full mitigation."
Both Harlequins and Sinckler went on record to insist the incident was accidental although they accepted the sanction imposed.
Sinckler said: "I wanted to go on record to say I am sorry that I have let my team mates down, but more importantly I feel terrible that anyone would think I would deliberately gouge an opponent. That was never my intention - it was a genuine mistake and an act of recklessness on my part."
Harlequins director of rugby John Kingston said: "There is no doubt in my mind that this incident was accidental, but...we fully accept the importance of player welfare and believe wholeheartedly that there is no place for any players' hand ever to be around the eye area of an opponent.
"We therefore accept the sanction and will be working with the whole squad around improving our discipline over the coming matches."
