Wales could be without Ospreys lock Brent Cockbain for the autumn internationals after he was cited for stamping on Sale’s Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe.
Cockbain was sin-binned for the incident just before half-time in the Ospreys’ 17-16 Heineken Cup victory at the Liberty Stadium on Friday night.
But independent citing commissioner Douglas Hunter ruled it was worthy of a red card and charged Cockbain with stamping or trampling on an opponent.
The European Rugby Cup’s disciplinary hearing is likely to be scheduled for next week, ahead of Wales’ opening autumn international against Australia on November 4.
If Cockbain is found guilty he could miss the majority, if not all, of Wales’ Tests against the Wallabies, the Pacific Islands, Canada and New Zealand.
It will be an anxious wait for Cockbain, who has not played Test rugby in almost a year after suffering a detached hamstring playing for Wales against Fiji last November.
There was more bad news for French giants Toulouse, who were thumped 30-3 by Ulster and have now had three members of their pack cited.
Prop Omar Hasan is accused of stamping, while prop Salvatore Perugini and Irish lock Trevor Brennan have both been charged with striking an opponent.
Cardiff winger Mosese Luveitasau has been cited for a dangerous tackle during the Blues’ 13-5 win over Bourgoin.
All players are free to continue playing until their respective hearings.
