English Rugby
England stars face possible citing
ESPNscrum Staff
December 5, 2011
Saints' Tom Wood and Tigers' Alesana Tuilagi depart from the field after being issued with red cards Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints, Aviva Premiership, Welford Road, Leicester, England, December 3, 2011
Both Alesana Tuilagi and Tom Wood were dismissed on Saturday © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Chris Ashton | Mark Cueto | Courtney Lawes | Tom Wood
Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Four of England's current Elite Player Squad face an anxious wait to establish whether they have been cited in the wake of an eventful weekend of Aviva Premiership rugby.

Northampton Saints' Tom Wood and Leicester Tigers' Alesana Tuilagi were both shown straight red cards during a fiery East Midlands derby but both Chris Ashton and Courtney Lawes could be cited. It was Ashton's tussle with Tuilagi - where the Saints winger appeared to pull the Samoan winger's hair - which sparked a mass brawl. Both Tuilagi and Wood were dismissed for punching but Ashton could yet face action over his part in igniting the melee. And replays suggested that lock Lawes also unleashed some punches of his own.

Tigers fullback Geordan Murphy confirmed Lawes' involvement in his eyes saying: "One thing led to another. Chief [Alesana Tuilagi] was dragged off by his hair, he pushed Ashton, Lawes came in and hit Chief, Wood came in and there was handbags. It was nothing serious." And Alesana's brother Manu - who was not part of the matchday squad - could also face disciplinary action after he approached the resulting brawl from the dugout before being restrained by a member of the Tigers' backroom staff.

Another member of England's squad who could also face disciplinary action is Sale winger Mark Cueto. The 31-year-old put in a late hit on Bath fly-half Tom Heathcote in the closing stages of their 16-13 win and Bath coach Brad Davis suggested the incident warranted a second viewing saying: "I'm sure it will be worth having another look at."

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