South Africa's Etzebeth and Argentina's Figallo cited

LONDON (AFP) –

Scotland’s flanker John Barclay (L) and prop Ryan Grant (R) tackle South Africa’s lock Eben Etzebeth (C) during the International rugby union test match between Scotland and South Africa at Murrayfield in Edinburgh on November 17. 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.

South Africa 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.