Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has been cited for making contact with the “eye or eye area” of Scotland fly-half Greig Laidlaw, the International Rugby Board (IRB) announced Monday.
The alleged incident occurred in the second half of the Springboks' 21-10 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Etzebeth, 21, will appear before an IRB disciplinary hearing on Tuesday and if found guilty faces a lengthy ban, which could include the Springboks' Test against England at Twickenham this coming Saturday.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, Argentina prop Juan Figallo has been cited for head-butting France captain Pascal Pape at the finish of the Pumas' 39-22 defeat in Lille on Saturday.
Figallo's hearing is listed for Wednesday, with Argentina playing Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
The IRB's recommended sanctions for an player found guilty of 'eye-gouging' range from a low entry point of 12 weeks to a high entry point of 24 weeks, with a maximum possible ban of three years. – AFP