Rugby:Mark Cueto will be available for England's Rugby World Cup campaign plus the summer warm-up internationals after he received a nine-week ban for gouging.
The Sale wing pleaded guilty to the charge of making contact with the eye / eye area of Northampton lock Christian Day during the Sharks' Aviva Premiership defeat on April 2nd.
The Rugby Football Union's (RFU) disciplinary panel judged Cueto's actions to have been a mid-range offence, which carries a recommended punishment of 18 weeks.
But that sanction was halved after Cueto delivered what the RFU described as "compelling mitigation". The ban was also back-dated to start on April 4th, the day Cueto was handed a six-week internal suspension by Sale.
The club ban already guaranteed he would miss the remainder of the Premiership season, but it will have come as some relief to both Cueto and England manager Martin Johnson that his World Cup ambitions were not damaged.
Cueto started all nine of England's Tests this season and was a pivotal figure during their recent Six Nations title-winning campaign.
Had the RFU panel not reduced the suspension by 50 per cent, Cueto would have missed the first of England's three warm-up games in August.
As it is, Cueto will link up with England for their summer training camp on June 20 and he is available for the Tests against Wales, home and away, and Ireland.
England kick off their World Cup campaign against Argentina in Dunedin on September 10th.
The incident occurred as Cueto and Day, who are former Sale team-mates, fought off the ball in the Premiership clash at Franklin's Gardens.
Television footage showed Cueto placing his hand on Day's face, with his fingers seemingly bent like a claw. Cueto did not contest the charge.
When Sale imposed their own suspension, director of sport Steve Diamond said: "Mark let the club and his team-mates down, and he is very upset that he has done so."
Meanwhile, Cueto's England team-mate Ben Foden was given a slap on the wrist by RFU disciplinary chief Judge Jeff Blackett on Monday after receiving a police caution for causing criminal damage.
Foden was called to Judge Blackett's chambers at the Royal Courts of Justice to explain the incident, which occurred in the early hours of March 28th.
Judge Blackett was satisfied the case did not warrant a full RFU disciplinary hearing, but he warned Foden as to his future conduct and asked him to make a donation to charity.
"Ben Foden and I met this afternoon. I accepted his explanation of what occurred on the night of Sunday, March 27th and I warned him as to his future conduct," Blackett said.
"He accepted that warning and he has agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to a rugby-related charity of his choosing."
Foden (25) was arrested following an altercation with a taxi driver while celebrating Northampton's Premiership win over Wasps in central London.
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