MANU Tuilagi faces the prospect of being banned immediately after making his return from the latest injury setback to have blighted his career.
Tuilagi has been cited for an alleged dangerous tackle on Chris Cloete in Leicester’s 25-16 Champions Cup defeat by Munster at Welford Road on Sunday and must appear before an independent disciplinary hearing today.
The entry-point sanction for a dangerous tackle is two weeks, the mid-range six weeks and the top end 10 weeks to a year.
Tuilagi appeared to make a high tackle on Cloete in the 49th-minute incident after the Munster openside had dropped to the floor to grab Jonny May’s kick and risen to his feet.
The England centre was making his first appearance since undergoing knee surgery three months ago and played a full 80 minutes.
Serious chest, groin, knee and hamstring injuries have plagued his career for the past four years and his most recent international appearance was against Wales in March 2016.
Tuilagi’s career has been chequered by repeated off-field disciplinary issues, including a conviction for assaulting two female police officers in 2015 that resulted in his exclusion from England’s World Cup squad later that year.
The 26-year-old’s most recent transgression saw him being sent home from England’s August training camp in disgrace after undertaking a late night drinking session with Denny Solomona.
However, his solitary suspension was the five weeks received for punching Chris Ashton in 2011.
Any ban issued by the three-strong panel in London on Wednesday would be a frustrating blow to a player who is in desperate need of game time after spending long spells in the treatment rooms that have raised doubts over his future.
Leinster’s 22-17 victory over Exeter, meanwhile has produced two citings for Cian Healyand Exeter lock Mitch Lees.
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