Lions 2013: Injured Cian Healy is cited over alleged bite
British and Irish Lions prop Cian Healy has been cited for allegedly biting Western Force scrum-half Brett Sheehan.
Sheehan accused Healy of biting his arm in the 17th minute of the Lions' 69-17 win over Force in Perth.
Healy, whose tour may be over after an ankle injury, will be at a disciplinary hearing at 00:00 BST on Friday.
The incident was referred during the match to the television match official, who ruled there was no evidence to support Sheehan's claim.
"I don't know if it was an accident or on purpose," Sheehan told Australian television at half-time.
But Healy has now been cited under Law 10.4(m) of International Rugby Board's laws of the game, which states "contrary to good sportsmanship, a player may not bite an opponent".
If found guilty Healy faces a lengthy ban. England hooker Dylan Hartley was banned for eight weeks in 2012 for biting the finger of Ireland's Stephen Ferris.
"He has been cited for acts contrary to good sportsmanship against Western Force scrum-half Brett Sheehan," the Australia Rugby Union said in a statement.
Healy, 25, sustained suspected ankle ligament damage after twisting his left leg in the 37th minute and had to be taken off on a stretcher.
England prop Alex Corbisiero has been called up as cover for Healy, although a Lions spokesman said the Irishman has not yet been ruled out of the rest of the tour.
"He went for an X-ray and the medics say it wasn't broken," said head coach Warren Gatland.
"We just assume it is ligament damage. He may need a scan to further delve into the potential of the injury."
Gatland confirmed that Wales loose-head Gethin Jenkins will play against Queensland Reds on Saturday after recovering from a calf injury.
Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll, who scored two tries in the victory, offered his sympathies to Healy, a Leinster and Ireland colleague.
"He is a club-mate and an international team-mate, but he is also now a Lions team-mate," O'Driscoll said. "If that is the end of his tour, it is bitterly disappointing. We just wait and hope it isn't as bad as it first seemed."
There was a more positive bulletin on their Leinster and Ireland team-mate Rob Kearney, who is battling to recover from a grade two hamstring tear.
Kearney, 27, is making good progress and looks set to return to full training early next week. He could then be in contention for either next Tuesday's match, against a Queensland-New South Wales Country combination, or the following Saturday against the New South Wales Waratahs.
I'm sure David Cameron will make a comment on this!
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