Manu Tuilagi cited for dangerous tackle on Munster flanker Chris Cloete after one game back from injury

The England international could be banned for the rest of the year if found guilty

Manu Tuilagi has been cited for a dangerous tackle on Munster forward Chris Cloete (Getty)

Manu Tuilagi has been cited for an alleged dangerous tackle on Munster flanker Chris Cloete during his first game back from injury last weekend, with the Leicester Tigers centre facing a possible ban and more time out of the game.

The 26-year-old England international made just his second appearance of the season in Sunday’s 25-16 defeat by Munster at Welford Road, having suffered a knee meniscus injury on the opening weekend of the 2017/18 campaign.

In total, Tuilagi has played just twice this calendar year – having suffered a similar knee injury that required surgery last January – and he could face a ban until the new year after being cited for a dangerous tackle in the second half of Sunday’s encounter.

European Professional Club Rugby have confirmed that Tuilagi will face a hearing in London on Wednesday, and could face a ban from anywhere between two and 52 weeks depending on if he is found guilty of not.

A statement issued on Tuesday morning read: “EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Leicester Tigers centre, Manu Tuilagi (No 13), following his club's Champions Cup, Round Four match against Munster Rugby at Welford Road on Sunday, 17 December 2017.

“Tuilagi is alleged to have tackled the Munster Rugby flanker, Chris Cloete (No 7), dangerously in the 49th minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (e).”

If banned, Tuilagi is likely to miss the rest of the year, and it would prove yet another major setback in his quest to return to full fitness and earn a recall to Eddie Jones’ England squad, having made just one appearance for the national team in the last three years.

Manu Tuilagi has been cited after his first match back from injury (Getty)

EPCR also confirmed that Leinster prop Cian Healy has been cited for allegedly charging into a ruck and making contact with the head of Exeter Chiefs hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, for which the Ireland international was shown a yellow card by referee Pascal Gauzere during Saturday’s 22-17 victory over the reigning Premiership champions.

Tuilagi faces a hearing in London on Wednesday (Getty)

Healy will also face a disciplinary hearing in London on Wednesday, and the charge – if found guilty –carries the same ban lengths as Tuilagi’s. Exeter’s Mitch Lees has been cited for the same offence against Healy later in the match, while Racing 92 wing Juan Imhoff faces a hearing following his red card offence for making contact with the head of scrum-half Rory Kockott during Saturday’s 29-7 victory over Castres, which carries a minimum ban of four weeks if found guilty that would rule him out of the next round of European fixtures in January in the game against Munster.