England centre Piers Francis has been cited for a dangerous tackle on Will Hooley in his side’s 45-7 victory over the United States in a Rugby World Cup match on Thursday.
Francis was not sanctioned during the Pool C match in Kobe and was cited by World Rugby after the game that also had USA flanker John Quill sent off for a shoulder charge on England’s Owen Farrell.
Francis is the fifth player to face the judiciary this week for dangerous tackles after World Rugby criticised the referees for inconsistency around their judgements in earlier games.
While referee Nic Berry opted not to review the tackle at the time, television replays showed Francis’s shoulder appeared to catch the fullback on the jaw.
Hooley came away unscathed from the incident, though later left the field on a stretcher with concussion following another hit.
England coach Eddie Jones had declined to discuss the Francis incident after Thursday’s game but said England would accept whatever decision came their way.
“We never discuss that area, we leave it to the judiciary or the citing commission,” he said.
“And then we’ll take whatever is handed out.”