Cueto is a regular for club and country

Northampton's Christian Day said he was not "gouged" by England wing Mark Cueto in written statements to a Rugby Football Union panel, it has emerged.

On Tuesday, Cueto was banned for nine weeks after pleading guilty to "making contact with the eye or eye area" of Day when playing for Sale on 2 April.

"I have had the unfortunate experience of being gouged before but this was not in any way similar," said lock Day.

"It was a pushing motion from an open hand, I felt no contact with my eye."

The RFU panel's written judgement of the hearing, released today, outlined two written statements made by Day.

In the second statement, when asked to comment on still photographs of the incident, Day added: "I understand that the photographic evidence appears damning, but that was not my recollection of the event.

"I can only describe what I felt at the time of a split-second occurrence. Pressure was not sustained into the eye socket.

He [Cueto] has faced up to what he has done and is clearly genuinely embarrassed and remorseful Antony Davies RFU disciplinary panel

"Instead, a 'pushing' motion was experienced consistent with a shove to the face. If a finger inadvertently entered my eye then it was, in my opinion, accidental and was certainly not my lasting memory of the event."

The panel were asked to consider written references, testimonials and letters of support for Cueto from England manager Martin Johnson, RFU rugby operations director Rob Andrew, Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy and Cueto's first club Altrincham Kersal.

The panel agreed Cueto's offence was "not committed intentionally or deliberately," although it had been reckless in that he knew there was a risk of committing an act of foul play.

Sale skipper Cueto admitted the charge, but a recommended punishment of 18 weeks for what the RFU panel deemed a mid-range offence was halved because of his remorse and good character.

In its judgement, the panel, chaired by Antony Davies, said: "We considered the substantial and compelling mitigating factors in this case, and particularly the written references.

"The player is clearly extremely well thought of at every level, from his continuing links with the amateur club where he started, through Sale Sharks and into the England playing and coaching squad.

"He is described as a model professional player who has always conducted himself in an exemplary fashion.

"The player has clearly understood the seriousness of the matter and its potential implications for his participation in the World Cup in New Zealand later in the year.

"He has faced up to what he has done and not sought to argue that it was purely accidental and to exculpate himself from any blame. He is clearly genuinely embarrassed and remorseful."

The relatively short sanction means the 31-year-old will be clear to play in the World Cup in September. Cueto, already banned by his club Sale, will be free to play on 7 June.

Cueto's ban was backdated to 4 April, the day he was handed a six-week internal suspension by Sale.

After sitting out the remainder of the domestic season, he will link up with England for their summer training camp on 20 June ahead of the August internationals against Wales, home and away, and Ireland.

The incident occurred during the Sharks' 53-24 Premiership defeat by Northampton when Cueto and Day, who are former Sale team-mates, scrapped off the ball in the build-up to the Sharks' second try.

Television replays showed Cueto's hand bent like a claw as it made contact with Day's face.

Cueto has scored 16 tries in 50 games for England since making his debut in 2004 and was a key player in their 2011 Six Nations success.

Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley missed the 2007 World Cup after he was banned for 26 weeks after being found guilty of a similar offence.

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