Rugby: Courtney Lawes faces the possibility of missing the rest of England's Rugby World Cup campaign after being cited for allegedly striking Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma with his knee.
Lawes has been called to appear before a disciplinary hearing in Auckland for an offence which carries a guideline suspension of between three and 12 weeks, or matches in the World Cup context.
If Lawes is found guilty, judicial officer Terry Willis must then judge the entry level of the offence - the lowest being three weeks - and determine whether there are any mitigating or aggravating circumstances.
Lawes will be required to leave England's Queenstown base to attend the hearing, which is due to begin at 3am UK time, where he will be represented by Richard Smith QC, the team's travelling legal expert.
The Northampton lock was the first player to be cited at the 2011 Rugby World Cup and it came after he collided with Ledesma, who appeared to be briefly knocked out, towards the end of the first half of England's 13-9 victory over the Pumas.
England manager Martin Johnson said: "We have received notification of Courtney's citing. We will of course provide Rugby World Cup with any information required and attend the hearing as requested.
"There will be no further comment until after the hearing."
Confirmation of the citing came after the 36-hour cut-off point but Rugby World Cup Ltd insisted there was nothing sinister in the delay.
A spokesman for the tournament organisers confirmed the citing would have been lodged within the time available but procedural issues, such as selecting the judicial officer, delayed the announcement.
The official RWCL statement reads: "Courtney Lawes (England) has been cited for an alleged breach of Law 10.4(a) punching or striking (with the knee) during the Rugby World Cup 2011 Pool B match against Argentina on September 10."
Argentina centre Gonzalo Tiesi, meanwhile, will miss the rest of the tournament after suffering knee ligament damage during the same game.
Tiesi, the former Harlequins and London Irish player, was injured in a tackle from England lock Courtney Lawes and has been replaced in the Argentina squad by wing Lucas Borges.
Captain Felipe Contepomi suffered bruised ribs against England and also had to be replaced early but he remains part of the Pumas squad.
Borges scored three tries in five matches for Argentina at the last World Cup.
