Tuilagi free to play after citing is dismissed

Leicester and England centre Manu Tuilagi will face no disciplinary action after being cleared of a dangerous tackle on Munster flanker Chris Cloete.

Tuilagi is now free to play against Saracens in their Premiership encounter on Christmas Eve following a hearing in London.

The Tigers’ player was cited by match citing commissioner Jeff Mark (Wales) but it was not deemed a red card offence.

An EPCR statement said: “The committee found that Tuilagi had committed a reckless act of foul play in that his shoulder had made contact with Cloete’s head, however, the committee was not satisfied that the offence had warranted a red card.

“The citing complaint was therefore dismissed and Tuilagi is free to play.”