Lions prop accused of eye gouging

LIONS and England prop Kyle Sinckler was accused of gouging last night during Harlequins’ 30-22 defeat by Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens.

Michael Paterson, the Saints lock, claimed Sinckler made contact with his eye at the bottom of a ruck.

If Sinckler is cited and proven guilty he could be banned for between 12 weeks and four years.

A ban would rule the England tighthead out of the autumn internationals.

On the field Sinckler fervently denied gouging. In the 49th minute both players were on the ground when Sinckler ripped Paterson’s scrum cap from his head. Paterson then asked referee Luke Pearce to review the incident, saying there was contact with his eyes.

‘You’ve come to me claiming

contact with the eye?’ Asked Pearce. Paterson replied: ‘100 per cent.’

The footage reviewed by Pearce and Television Match Official Graham Hughes was inconclusive.

Pearce then told Sinckler: ‘There is no evidence on here that I am seeing that you gouged him.’ The Quins prop replied: ‘No I didn’t.’

Pearce said to Paterson: ‘There is citing for afterwards if they wish to look at it but we can’t find any evidence here.’

The penalty was given against Sinckler for ripping Paterson’s scrum-cap off.

After the match Harlequins director of rugby John Kingston said there had ‘unequivocally’ been no gouge by his player.

‘Kyle said he made contact with his headgear. He can’t do that.’

He then raised concerns about the black eye his captain Dave Ward sustained during the first half. The hooker stayed on for the entire match.

‘I’m not here to cast aspersions, but my hooker has got a rather nasty eye,’ Kingston said. But Harlequins will not refer that to Chris Catling, the citing commissioner, who has 48 hours to make a decision on either incident. If Sinckler is cited he will face a judiciary panel.