Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finalists face an anxious wait to see if Brian O'Driscoll picks up the first ban of his career for an alleged stamp during the final weekend of RBS 6 Nations tournament.
The Irish centre has been cited following an incident with Italian flanker Simone Favaro during Ireland's defeat in Rome last weekend. O'Driscoll was sin binned for bringing his foot down on Favaro's chest just before the half-hour mark at the Stadio Olimpico as his side lost to the Azzurri for the first time since 1997.
It was just the second time the 34-year-old had been yellow carded in his 14-year professional career. The tournament organisers released a short statement confirming the citing complaint, but haven't yet announced a date or the venue for the hearing.
"Brian O'Driscoll, the Ireland centre, has been cited by the independent citing commissioner for an alleged stamping or trampling on an opponent, contrary to Law 10.4 (b), in the RBS 6 Nations match between Italy and Ireland on Saturday 16th March 2013. Details of the Hearing will be announced later," read the statement.
The low-end sanction for stamping is two weeks, the mid-range punishment is five weeks and the top-end is from nine weeks to a year. Leinster meet London Wasps in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter finals at Adam s park on Friday, 5 April.
While a ban of any sorts would be a blow for the star centre, it could be even more tricky for the reigning Heineken Cup champions who lost Luke Fitzgerald to a knee injury in Rome and are waiting for Godron D'Arcy to return to action after another international injury.
O'Driscoll's Leinster and Ireland colleague Cian Healy was banned for three weeks last month after being found guilty of stamping on England's Dan Cole and a similar punishment for the former Lions skipper would see him miss domestic and European action with Leinster.
