IT LOOKED LIKE Harlequins lock Charlie Matthews was going to get hit with a minimum of a 12 week ban after he was cited for making contact with the eye of Dominic Ryan during last Saturday’s Champions cup game at the Aviva Stadium.

But after hearing evidence from Matthews, Quins boss Conor O’Shea, and a surprise mystery witness, the EPCR released this statement:

So Dominic Ryan cleared Matthews essentially. This eye injury could have been caused by a number of things.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

It was lucky for Matthews that Ryan came forward because according to the EPCR it is a 12 week for the low end gouging offence, 18 weeks for mid-range and 24-52 weeks for high end.

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