Tadhg Furlong cited for alleged groin grab on Munster's Gavin Coombes
The Leinster prop, 33, could miss Ireland's November matches against Argentina, Fiji and South Africa if found guilty, though Johnny Sexton has backed him.
Follow-up to Leinster vs Munster: Leinster fight back from 13-0 down to win 24-18
Tadhg Furlong's place in Ireland's November campaign, including the meeting with South Africa, is in doubt after the prop was cited on Monday 26 October over an allegation that he grabbed the groin of Munster's Gavin Coombes.
The incident came in the first half of Leinster's URC win over Munster on Saturday 24 October. Referee Andrew Brace asked television match official Colin Stanley to look at it, but Stanley found no evidence of foul play then, so nothing was done on the field. The citing has now put the matter back on the table.
What a ban could cost
If he is found guilty, Furlong could be absent for Ireland's Nations Championship fixtures next month.
The damage could reach his club as well. A suspension could keep him out of Leinster's Champions Cup pool game against Sale and the festive derbies with Ulster and Munster.
South African fans will know how heavy the punishment can be. In October last year, Bulls front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels was banned for 12 weeks for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during a URC win over Connacht. Twelve weeks is the shortest sanction World Rugby allows for the offence, and Wessels had three weeks taken off his ban.
Sexton and McBryde back the prop
Furlong trained with Ireland on Tuesday 27 October. Afterwards Ireland assistant coach Johnny Sexton, his former team-mate at province and country, gave him his support.
"But I know Tadhg as a person, first and foremost, and I don't think that's something he would have done," Sexton said.
Robin McBryde, the Leinster assistant coach and a former Wales forwards coach, also spoke up for him. McBryde said the allegation was out of character for Furlong and that he would happily give the prop a character reference.
Sources
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